Categories: Health

Light into womb gives healthy eyes

US researchers have discovered that light passing through the body and into the womb has an important role in the developing eye.

A study, published in the journal Nature, showed that mice spending pregnancy in complete darkness had babies with altered eye development.

It indicated tiny quantities of light were needed to control blood vessel growth in the eye.

The researchers hope the findings will aid understanding of eye disorders.

If you could journey inside a mouse or a person, there would not be enough light to see. However, tiny quantities of light do pass through the body.

This effect has already been used to film an infection spreading through the body.

Now scientists – at the University of California, San Francisco, and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center – believe that body-penetrating light can alter the development of the eye, at least in mice.

US researchers have discovered that light passing through the body and into the womb has an important role in the developing eye

Normally, a network of blood vessels known as the hyaloid vasculature is formed to help nourish the retina as it is constructed.

However, the blood vessels would disrupt sight if they remained, so they are later removed – like scaffolding from a finished building.

The researchers said this did not happen when the pregnancy was spent in total darkness.

The critical period was around 16 days – which is very late in mouse gestation, but corresponds to the first trimester in people.

“It’s not something subtle here, it’s a major effect on the way the retina develops that requires light going through the body,” said Prof. Richard Lang, from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.

He said it was a “huge surprise” that this was happening.

The researchers hope their findings may aid understanding of human diseases of the eye, as many are down to blood vessels.

Some babies born prematurely develop “retinopathy of prematurity”, when the blood vessels in the eye grow abnormally resulting in damage to the retina and a loss of vision.

Prof. Richard Lang said: “In retinopathy of prematurity there is overgrowth of blood vessels and that’s what you see in these mice.”

The researchers showed that light was activating in the mice a protein, melanopsin, which also has a role in regulating the body clock, and is present in people. However, whether the same processes take place in people or other animals is unknown.

Diane A. Wade

Diane is a perfectionist. She enjoys searching the internet for the hottest events from around the world and writing an article about it. The details matter to her, so she makes sure the information is easy to read and understand. She likes traveling and history, especially ancient history. Being a very sociable person she has a blast having barbeque with family and friends.

Recent Posts

Donald Trump and Elon Musk Celebrate Election Victory at UFC 309

Image source: Wikimedia Commons President-elect Donald Trump celebrated his election victory at the Ultimate Fighting…

5 days ago

White House 2024: Donald Trump Wins, Kamala Harris Calls Him to Concede Election

Millions of voters across the US chose to return Donald Trump to the White House…

2 weeks ago

Who Won? Donald Trump Declares Victory as He Addresses Jubilant Supporters in Florida

Donald Trump declares victory in the US election as he addresses jubilant supporters in Florida.…

2 weeks ago

Stocks Soaring as Donald Trump Closes in on US Victory

Stocks around the world are rising as Donald Trump appears to be on the cusp…

2 weeks ago

Who Won? Kamala Harris Cancels Election Night Party as Path to Victory Narrows

Donald Trump has won Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Georgia and taken a lead over Kamala…

2 weeks ago

Quincy Jones Dead at 91

Quincy Jones, the celebrated musician and producer who worked with Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra, Ray…

2 weeks ago