# Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription signaling pathway in the ocular cells of rat fetuses exposed to maternal saturated fat ingestion

## TL;DR

This study found that a maternal diet high in saturated fat does not harm fetal eye development or trigger inflammation in rats with insulin resistance.

## Contribution

The study shows that maternal saturated fat intake does not activate the JAK-STAT pathway in fetal ocular cells despite insulin resistance.

## Key findings

- No histopathological changes were observed in fetal eyes between the groups.
- Immunohistochemical analysis showed no altered protein expression in the JAK-STAT pathway.
- Saturated fat diet did not activate inflammatory markers in fetal ocular cells.

## Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze possible alterations (morphological and inflammatory) in the ocular cells of fetuses from mothers with insulin resistance exposed to saturated fatty acids through the period of pregnancy.

Wistar female rats were induced to develop insulin resistance before pregnancy. Fetuses' skulls were collected on the 20th day of intrauterine life. The rats were separated on the first day of management into two groups according to the diet applied: control group (C): diet containing soybean oil as a source of fat; and saturated fatty acid group (S): diet containing butter as a source of fat.

Histological and immunohistochemical analyses have been conducted. The immunohistochemical analyses of interleukin 6, suppressor of cytokine signaling, 3 and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 did not demonstrate alterations in the expression of proteins in the fetuses of mothers fed with a saturated fatty diet. Moreover, no histopathological changes were noticed between groups.

The saturated fatty diet does not induce tissue changes or activate the Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription signaling pathway during eye development in the fetuses of mothers with insulin resistance.