TRPV4 is present in chicken lenses and can be modulated to affect biomechanics

This ARVO 2026 conference abstract investigated whether the transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 channel is present in chicken lenses and whether modulating this channel affects lens biomechanics. White Leghorn hatchlings were raised for 14 days, after which the eyes were enucleated and lenses were analyzed for TRPV4 protein expression and mechanical response. Western blotting detected TRPV4 bands at approximately 98 kDa, indicating the presence of TRPV4 in chicken lenses. To test biomechanical effects, paired lenses were treated with either a TRPV4 agonist, GSK1016790A, or antagonist, RN-1734, while fellow control lenses were treated with vehicle in transport solution at 37 °C for the same duration. Compression testing showed that agonist-treated lenses had a significantly lower exponential b-coefficient than vehicle controls, indicating softening, while antagonist-treated lenses had a significantly higher b-coefficient, indicating stiffening. The findings suggest that TRPV4 activity influences lens biomechanics, possibly through calcium-mediated effects on gap junction opening, water efflux, microcirculation, and cytoskeletal regulation.