Biometric Alterations of Mouse Embryonic Eye Structures Due to Short-Term Folic Acid Deficiency

Area of Science:

• Developmental biology
• Ophthalmology
• Nutritional science

Background:

• Folic acid (FA) is crucial for embryonic development, with deficiency linked to neural tube defects.
• The impact of maternal FA deficiency (FAD) on ocular development is not well understood.
• The eye originates from the neural tube, suggesting a potential link between FAD and eye formation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of maternal FAD on ocular biometry in mouse embryos.
• To analyze how different durations of FAD exposure influence eye development.

Main Methods:

• Female mice were assigned to control (standard FA diet), short-term FAD, or long-term FAD groups.
• Embryos (n=57) were collected at 14.5 gestational days for ocular biometry analysis.
• ImageJ software was used to measure the area of the lens, eye, and retina, along with their circularity.

Main Results:

• Embryos from FAD groups exhibited smaller lenses and eyes compared to controls.
• Long-term maternal FAD led to a spatially increased neural retina size.
• Eyes and lenses in FAD-exposed embryos showed increased circularity.

Conclusions:

• Maternal FAD, even for a short term, induces morphological alterations in offspring ocular structures.
• Folic acid is essential for normal embryonic eye development.
• Dietary interventions during pregnancy can significantly impact fetal eye development.