PUBLICATION
Pannexin 1a regulates visual system development and ocular integrity in zebrafish
- Authors
- Sabour, S., Houshangi-Tabrizi, S., Zoidl, G.S.O., Zoidl, G.R., Tabatabaei, N.
- ID
- ZDB-PUB-260303-1
- Date
- 2026
- Source
- iScience 29: 114925114925 (Journal)
- Registered Authors
- Zoidl, Georg
- Keywords
- Developmental neuroscience, Molecular neuroscience, Sensory neuroscience
- MeSH Terms
- none
- PubMed
- 41767272 Full text @ iScience
Citation
Sabour, S., Houshangi-Tabrizi, S., Zoidl, G.S.O., Zoidl, G.R., Tabatabaei, N. (2026) Pannexin 1a regulates visual system development and ocular integrity in zebrafish. iScience. 29:114925114925.
Abstract
Pannexin 1a (Panx1a), a large-pore ATP release channel broadly expressed in the vertebrate eye, has an unclear role in ocular development. Using a zebrafish Panx1a knockout, we observed progressive ocular phenotypes, including impaired visuomotor behavior, axial myopia, cataract-like lens abnormalities, lens defects, and retinal thinning. Optokinetic response (OKR) assays revealed markedly reduced responsiveness in Panx1a-/- larvae, with response rates declining from 91.7% to 50% at 20% contrast and from 100% to 41.7% at 100% contrast, along with prolonged saccade intervals (2-fold at 20% and 4-fold at 100% contrast). High-resolution optical coherence tomography (OCT) in adults showed increased normalized axial length (7-8% across ages) and reduced lens-to-axial length ratios (0.58 vs. 0.63 at 8 months). Histology revealed age-dependent lens epithelial disruption and increased light scatter. Retinal analyses demonstrated thinning of the whole retina (10%) and ganglion cell layer (33%), with occasional vascular tortuosity. Together, these findings identify Panx1a as a key regulator of ocular integrity and refractive development in zebrafish.
Genes / Markers
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping