Fig. 6: Genetic knockdown of Coch gene expression or pharmacological blockade of SFRP1 prevented myopia progression by increasing choroidal blood perfusion in the FDM model.

The effects of cochlin shRNA and SFRP1 inhibitor on refraction (a) and AL (b) in the FDM model at 1 w and 6 w post induction (using data from treated eyes) were shown and compared using two-way ANOVA (n = 5–18). The effects of cochlin shRNA and SFRP1 inhibitor on refraction (c) and AL (d) in the FDM model at 1 w and 6 w post induction (using data of differences between two eyes) were also shown and compared using two-way ANOVA (n = 5–18). An en face illustration of OCTA on guinea pig choroid (e). A cross-sectional illustration of OCTA of the guinea pig choroid (f). Representative OCTA images of the guinea pig choroid at 1 w and 6 w following FDM induction (g). Choroidal blood perfusion was quantified from OCTA images (h) and compared using one-way ANOVA (n = 46–133). A schematic reference to the position of the examined posterior pole tissues (i). Representative HE staining images of ocular posterior pole tissues, including choroidal vasculature, at 1 w and 6 w following FDM induction (j). Scale bar = 50 μm. The area of the choroidal vessel lumen was quantified from the HE staining images (k) and compared by one-way ANOVA (n = 16–25). All data represent the mean ± SEM. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001. SFRP1 secreted frizzled-related protein 1, FDM form-deprived myopia, AL axial length, w week(s), OCTA optical coherence tomography angiography, HE hematoxylin and eosin.