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Discrepancy and commonality in histological changes for postnatal retinal growth between mice and cattle
Muneyoshi Hyoto1, Hiroyuki Imai2, Masashi Sakurai3
1Division of Basic Veterinary Science, Joint Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi 753-8515, Japan.
Tissue & Cell
|October 18, 2025
Summary
Comparing retinal development in mice and cattle reveals key tissue changes for vision acquisition. Retinal thinning post-birth in both species suggests crucial cellular restructuring for functional vision.
Area of Science:
- Comparative developmental biology
- Neuroscience
- Ophthalmology
Background:
- Neonatal organ development varies; some are mature at birth, others develop postnatally.
- Retinal development differs across species, impacting visual function acquisition.
- Altricial animals (e.g., mice) are born with underdeveloped vision, while precocial animals (e.g., cattle) are born with vision.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare postnatal retinal growth and cellular changes in altricial (mice) and precocial (cattle) species.
- To identify tissue and cellular transformations essential for developing visual function.
Main Methods:
- Examination of retinal growth from neonatal stages to adulthood in mice and cattle.
- Analysis of retinal structure, thickness, and cellular arrangement during postnatal development.
Main Results:
- Both mice and cattle exhibited biphasic eyeball growth (rapid then slow).
- Mice retinas developed a mature 10-layer structure by postnatal day 14 (P14), with thickness peaking then decreasing.
- Cattle retinas showed a mature structure at birth (P0) and underwent a thinning phase postnatally, similar to mice.
Conclusions:
- Retinal thinning in both species post-birth appears to involve tissue reconstruction and cellular rearrangement.
- These developmental changes are potentially critical for the acquisition of functional vision.
