Research progress of perineuronal net in regulating visual cortical plasticity

Amblyopia is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by abnormal visual experience during the critical period of visual development.During this critical period, the visual cortex exhibits high plasticity, enabling it to remodel neural circuits in response to visual input.However, this plasticity significantly declines with age, resulting in limited therapeutic efficacy in adult amblyopia patients.A core challenge in amblyopia treatment is reactivating plasticity in the adult visual cortex.Recent studies have identified perineuronal net (PNN) as key regulators of visual cortical plasticity.PNN are specialized extracellular matrix structures that envelop neurons and modulate synaptic plasticity through their unique molecular composition.Multiple studies suggest that manipulating the integrity or composition of PNN can alter cortical plasticity in adults.However, the precise molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways by which PNN regulate plasticity remain incompletely understood.This review summarizes recent advances in understanding how PNN modulate visual cortical plasticity, including potential molecular mechanisms and related signaling pathways, with the aim of providing theoretical insights for the development of novel amblyopia treatment strategies in adults.