The absence of the potassium channel KCNQ4 affects the visual function

VERA, M; STUPNIKI, S; BRUERA, M; PAZ, MC; DIONISIO, L; VATER, A; SCHAIQUEVICH, P; CONTIN, MA; SPITZMAUL, G

Buenos Aires

Encuentro; Encuentro de la Sociedad Argentina de neurociencias (SAN) 2022,; 2022

Sociedad Argentina de Neurociencia (SAN)

KCNQ4 belongs to a family of voltage-gated potassium channels (Kv7) that contribute to K+ movement in the organ of Cortiand neuron excitability in specific brain regions. KCNQ4, as well as the other members of Kv7 subunits, can generate the Mcurrent,whose properties depend on the subunit composition of the tetrameric channel. K+ currents similar to thatgenerated by KCNQ channel subunits (M-like currents) have been reported in eye tissues, such as the retina, the retinalpigmented epithelium (RPE), and the ciliary body (CB), where they could participate in the visual processing and aqueoushumor formation. We aimed to investigate the expression of KCNQ channel subunits and the role of KCNQ4 in eye tissues.For this, we used a constitutive KO mouse model for KCNQ4 (Kcnq4-/-) and WT animals to analyze gene and proteinexpression as well as functional parameters of eye tissues.