Three Mice, Formerly Known As “Blind,” Given the Gift of Sight
June 5th, 2007Finally able to spot the proverbial carving knife, mice who once suffered from a form of hereditary blindness are now free to taunt the Farmer’s Wife at will.
Scientists at the University of Florida have successfully restored the vision of mice affected by achromatopsia, a form of hereditary visual impairment the results in complete color blindness and nearly non-existent central vision. By injecting the mice with a harmless virus, the scientists were able to deliver corrective genes to the mice’s cone photoreceptor cells, which define whether or not someone is blind.
“Initially I was skeptical,” says Marty McMouse, who traveled all the way his home in East Sussex to participate in the study. “I mean, the idea of being injected with a so-called ‘harmless’ virus was a little new-fangled for this country mouse.”
But when Marty was able to locate his water feeder for the first time in his life without assistance, he knew he’d made the right choice.
After two months of gene therapy, McMouse and his fellow participants experienced exceptional results. Of the 21 treated eyes, 19 responded positively to the treatment, 17 of which had vision comparable to that of normal mice. The study showed that gene therapy can be used to target cone cells and effectively restore their function. UF’s researchers believe that this approach will soon be able to be used to correct vision problems in people.
“Sure, this study has positive implications for humans,” McMouse concedes, “but as a descendant of a long line of visually challenged mice so long stigmatized by the famous nursery rhyme, I find this discovery empowering in and of itself.”
Indeed, formerly blind mice can now hold their heads high and proclaim, “Why yes, I have seen such a thing in my life!”
