MDPI Acta Medica Okayama 2227-9059 12 2 2024 Morphometric Analysis of the Eye by Magnetic Resonance Imaging in MGST2-Gene-Deficient Mice 370 EN Chaomulige Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University Toshihiko Matsuo Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University Kohei Sugimoto Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University Mary Miyaji Department of Medical Neurobiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Osamu Hosoya Department of Medical Neurobiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Masashi Ueda Department of Biofunctional Imaging Analysis, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Ryosuke Kobayashi Biosignal Genome Resource Center, Institute for Molecular and Cellular Regulation, Gunma University Takuro Horii Biosignal Genome Resource Center, Institute for Molecular and Cellular Regulation, Gunma University Izuho Hatada Biosignal Genome Resource Center, Institute for Molecular and Cellular Regulation, Gunma University Strabismus, a neuro-ophthalmological condition characterized by misalignment of the eyes, is a common ophthalmic disorder affecting both children and adults. In our previous study, we identified the microsomal glutathione S-transferase 2 (MGST2) gene as one of the potential candidates for comitant strabismus susceptibility in a Japanese population. The MGST2 gene belongs to the membrane-associated protein involved in the generation of pro-inflammatory mediators, and it is also found in the protection against oxidative stress by decreasing the reactivity of oxidized lipids. To look for the roles of the MGST2 gene in the development, eye alignment, and overall morphology of the eye as the possible background of strabismus, MGST2 gene knockout (KO) mice were generated by CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing with guide RNAs targeting the MGST2 exon 2. The ocular morphology of the KO mice was analyzed through high-resolution images obtained by a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine for small animals. The morphometric analyses showed that the height, width, and volume of the eyeballs in MGST2 KO homozygous mice were significantly greater than those of wild-type mice, indicating that the eyes of MGST2 KO homozygous mice were significantly enlarged. There were no significant differences in the axis length and axis angle. These morphological changes may potentially contribute to the development of a subgroup of strabismus. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.