Abstract
Purpose :
Consumption of processed foods high in fat may lead to metabolic disease and contribute to vision loss, but few studies have longitudinally evaluated the effects of high fat diet on visual acuity and retinal function. Here, we tested the hypothesis that consumption of a high fat diet influences visual acuity, retinal function, and metabolic outcomes in male and female C57BL/6J mice over time.
Methods :
At 8 weeks of age, male (n=18) and female (n=14) C57BL/6J mice were randomized into treatment groups receiving either ingredient-matched control diet (CON, n=17) or high fat diet (HFD, n=15). Weight and blood glucose were measured weekly and glucose tolerance tests (GTT) given at 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20 weeks of age to evaluate metabolic outcomes. Optomotor response (OMR) testing and dark-adapted electroretinography (ERG) were used to assess visual acuity and retinal function at 5, 9, 13, 17, and 21 weeks of age. 2-way ANOVAs and t-tests were used for statistical analyses.
Results :
After 1 week of dietary treatment, HFD group had decreased visual acuity (p<0.05) and retinal function (Figure 2: p<0.01), with reduced a-wave, b-wave, and oscillatory potential ERG amplitudes compared to the CON group. These deficits grew after 5 weeks in the HFD group, with decreased visual acuity (p<0.01) and retinal function (p<0.01) . Male HFD mice gained more weight over time (p<0.01) and displayed worse glucose tolerance after 4 weeks of treatment than male CON mice (p<0.05). However, female HFD mice did not have large changes in body weight over time or worse glucose tolerance after 4 weeks of treatment.
Conclusions :
HFD caused rapid decreased visual acuity and retinal dysfunction in male and female mice; however, weight and glucose intolerance outcomes were sex-specific. These findings of early retinal and visual function deficits support the sensitivity of the retina to metabolic insults and the usefulness of the eye as a window to overall health.
This is a 2020 ARVO Annual Meeting abstract.