What does this research mean for the field?

Melatonin administration prevents visual and retinal structural alterations, including inflammation and oxidative stress, induced by early life stress in adult mice. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.NOVEL_FINDING. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To evaluate whether melatonin treatment prevents retinal structural damage, visual impairment, inflammation, and oxidative stress induced by early life stress in adult mice.

August 22, 2026Scientific ReportsOpen Access

Melatonin prevents visual and retinal structural alterations induced by early life stress in adult mice

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Authors

JCJuan S. CalanniConsejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas NANathaly A. Bernal AguirreConsejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas HDHernán H. DiéguezInserm

Discussion

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Implication

Animal study demonstrates that melatonin preserves retinal structure and visual function in mice exposed to early life stress, highlighting a potential therapy for childhood trauma sequelae.

Key Points

To evaluate whether melatonin treatment prevents retinal structural damage, visual impairment, inflammation, and oxidative stress induced by early life stress in adult mice.
Male and female C57Bl/6J mice were subjected to maternal separation with early weaning (MSEW) from postnatal days (PND) 4–16 and weaned at PND 17, while controls were weaned at PND 21.
At PND 35, mice received either a subcutaneous melatonin pellet implantation or sham surgery.
Visual function (scotopic threshold and photopic negative responses, contrast sensitivity), retinal ganglion cell counts, microglial morphology, and biochemical markers of inflammation and oxidative stress were assessed at PND 45 and PND 60.
At PND 60, melatonin treatment preserved scotopic threshold response and photopic negative response amplitudes, contrast sensitivity, normal microglial morphology, and retinal ganglion cell survival against MSEW-induced deficits.
At PND 45, MSEW increased ganglion cell layer immunoreactivity for NF-κB p65, IL-1β, 4-HNE, and nitrotyrosine, as well as mitochondrial superoxide in retinal ganglion cells; melatonin prevented all of these elevations.

Cite This Study

Calanni et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a895fc4ca7ade938187ea20 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-66526-w

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Implication

Animal study demonstrates that melatonin preserves retinal structure and visual function in mice exposed to early life stress, highlighting a potential therapy for childhood trauma sequelae.

Melatonin prevents visual and retinal structural alterations induced by early life stress in adult mice

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

Melatonin prevents visual and retinal structural alterations induced by early life stress in adult mice

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

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