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Exogenous All-Trans Retinoic Acid Induces Similar Longitudinal Changes in Ocular Biometry to Hyperopic Defocus in
Biyun Zhan1,2,3,4, Yangyi Huang1,2,3,4, Xuejun Wang1,2,3,4
1Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Eye and ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Current Eye Research
|December 18, 2025
Summary
Exogenous all-trans retinoic acid (atRA) in mice induced similar ocular changes to lens-induced myopia (LIM), including longer axial length and thinner retinal thickness. However, atRA-treated eyes showed relatively thicker lenses.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Retinoid Research
- Animal Models
Background:
- Myopia progression is a significant global health concern.
- Understanding the mechanisms of myopia development is crucial for effective interventions.
- Lens-induced myopia (LIM) is a common animal model for studying myopia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate longitudinal ocular biometric changes in mice treated with exogenous all-trans retinoic acid (atRA).
- To compare these changes with those observed in the lens-induced myopia (LIM) model.
Main Methods:
- Male C57BL/6J mice received peribulbar injections of atRA or were fitted with monocular -30D lenses for LIM.
- Ocular biometrics were measured using swept-source optical coherence tomography on days 0, 3, 6, 10, and 15.
- Scleral thickness (ST) and retinal arc length (RAL) were assessed via histology.
Main Results:
- Both atRA and LIM treatments resulted in increased axial length (AL) and decreased retinal thickness (RT).
- Vitreous chamber depth (VCD) increased in both groups, with atRA showing an earlier onset.
- atRA-treated eyes exhibited significantly higher lens thickness to axial length ratios (LT/AL) compared to LIM eyes on days 10 and 15.
- Both groups showed reduced scleral thickness (ST) and increased retinal arc length (RAL) compared to controls.
Conclusions:
- Exogenous atRA induces longitudinal ocular biometric alterations comparable to the LIM model.
- A key difference observed was the relatively thicker lenses in atRA-treated eyes.
- These findings suggest atRA influences ocular development in a manner similar to, yet distinct from, lens-induced myopia.
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