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Sustained Extracellular Electrical Stimulation Modulates the Permeability of Gap Junctions in rd1 Mouse Retina with Photoreceptor Degeneration
These findings are essential for understanding molecular signaling in diseases over coupled networks and therapeutic approaches using electrical implants, such as eliciting visual sensations or suppressing cortical seizures.
This study conducted at the Institute for Ophthalmic Research in Tübingen, investigated how electrical stimulation affects communication channels called gap junctions in the retina of mice with photoreceptor degeneration. The researchers found that these gap junctions play a crucial role in transmitting signals between different cells in the retina. By using sustained electrical stimulation, they were able to control the permeability of these junctions, influencing how signals travel between cells. This discovery has important implications for developing new treatments for vision-related diseases.
By demonstrating the ability to control the communication channels between cells in the retina through sustained electrical stimulation, this study opens up new avenues for understanding and potentially treating vision-related diseases. These results have significant implications for the development of novel therapeutic approaches that could improve the quality of life for individuals affected by blinding conditions.
The results have been published by Sophie Stürmer, Sylvia Bolz, Eberhart Zrenner, Marius Ueffing and Wadood Haq in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, here is the link to the original publication:
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