title: Flaxseed used since pregnancy by the mother and after weaning by the offspring benefits the retina and optic nerve development in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to evaluate the influence of a diet based on flaxseed upon the development of the nervous system, more specifically, the optic nerve and retina.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rats were divided into three groups: Control (CG), Flaxseed (FG), and Modified Control (MCG). The analyses were performed in the offspring (n = 6/group) at the immediate postnatal period (P0), 14 d of life (P14) and 30 d of life (P30). Descriptive analysis and histomorphometry of optic nerve and retina were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a great evolution in the development of the nervous fascicles, connective trabeculae, and blood vessels, when comparing the three ages studied, and these characteristics were more evident in FG at all three ages. The P0, P14, and P30 retina showed similar morphology to that described in the literature. In histomorphometry, at P14, the FG presented the retina and its layers with significant increase in thickness, except for internal granular and ganglionar, whereas MCG had greater retina and photoreceptor layers thickness, inner plexiform and external granular when compared with CG (p < .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of flaxseed in the pre-and postnatal period displays favourable influence on the development of rat optic nerve and retina, probably leading to myelination.
authors.affiliation: a Laboratory of Experimental Nutrition, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics , Nutrition College, Fluminense Federal University , Niterói , Rio de Janeiro , Brazil.
authors.forename: Queila
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Lenzi
authors.affiliation: a Laboratory of Experimental Nutrition, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics , Nutrition College, Fluminense Federal University , Niterói , Rio de Janeiro , Brazil.
authors.forename: André Manoel
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Correia-Santos
authors.affiliation: b Medical College, Rio de Janeiro Federal University - Campus UFRJ - Macaé , Rio de Janeiro , Brazil.
authors.forename: Kátia Calvi
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Lenzi-Almeida
authors.affiliation: a Laboratory of Experimental Nutrition, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics , Nutrition College, Fluminense Federal University , Niterói , Rio de Janeiro , Brazil.
authors.forename: Gilson Teles
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Boaventura
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D019597:Flax; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000254:growth & development*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012160:Retina / Q000254:growth & development*; D012639:Seeds; D014886:Weaning
keywords: Nutrition; flaxseed; omega-3; perinatal; retina