A novel splice donor site mutation in EPHA2 caused congenital cataract in a Chinese family.

Background: Congenital cataract is a rare disorder characterized by crystallin denaturation, which becomes a major cause of childhood blindness. Although more than fifty pathogenic genes for congenital cataract have been reported, the genetic causes of many cataract patients remain unknown. In this study, the aim is to identify the genetic cause of a five‑generation Chinese autosomal dominant congenital cataract family. Methods: Whole exome sequencing (WES) was performed on three affected and one unaffected member of the family, known causative genes were scanned first. Sanger sequencing was used to validate co‑segregation of the candidate variant in the family. The impact on the transcript and amino acid sequences of the variant was further analyzed. Results: We identified a novel splice donor site mutation c. 2825+1G >A in EPHA2 that was absent in public and in‑house databases and showed co‑segregation in the family. This variant resulted in an altered splice that led to protein truncation. Conclusions: The mutation we identified was responsible for congenital cataract in our studied family. Our findings broaden the spectrum of causative mutations in EPHA2 gene for congenital cataract and suggest that WES is an efficient strategy to scan variants in known causative genes for genetically heterogeneous diseases.

Effects of prenatal stress on neurons and neuronal ultrastructure of developing hippocampus in rats / 中国病理生理杂志

AIM: To investigate the effects of prenatal stress (PS) on neurons and neuronal ultrastructure of hippocampus in offspring rats, and to explore the role of the overproduction of oxidants. METHODS: One month male offspring rats were obtained to observe the neuronal number, neuronal ultrastructure and the number of nNOS -positive cell in hippocampus. RESULTS: The neuronal number of CA1 and CA4 subregions in late gestation stress (LS) offspring decreases significantly. The neuronal ultrastructure of CA1 subregion in MS (stress in 7-13 days of gestation) and LS offspring appeared bulgy mitochondria, unclear membrane and irregular electron density. Lipofuscin pigments increased; The number of nNOS-positive cell in CA1, CA2, CA3 subregions and DG of MS group and the whole hippocampus of LS group increased significantly. CONCLUSION: PS damaged the neurons and neuronal ultrastructure of hippocampus of offspring rats. The damages were associated with the overproduction of oxidants.