title: Dose-response characteristics of galactose-induced cataract in the rat.
abstract: The onset and progression of cataract was investigated in weanling Sprague-Dawley rats fed 10, 15, 20 and 30% dietary galactose (groups 1-4) for 45-226 days. Cataracts were graded on a 0-5 scale. After 226 days, 9% of the rats fed 10% galactose developed lesions beyond the very early stage of cataractogenesis (grade 1). After 154 days 50% of the rats fed 15% galactose developed subcortical cataract (grade 3) with no nuclear cataract. In the rats fed 20% galactose, an initial rapid development by 31 days of a grade 3 cataract was observed in 50% of the eyes. Advancement to grade 4 and grade 5 cataract proceeded more slowly; by 207 days, 45% of the eyes had grade 5 cataract. In rats fed 30% galactose, rapid vacuolization and development of nuclear cataracts (grade 5) were observed by day 44. Dietary galactose at levels of 20 and 30% was associated with a significant reduction in weight gain at the early stage of dietary treatment. These observations demonstrate that 10-30% dietary galactose induces cataract in rat lens in a dose- and time-dependent fashion. These data serve to further establish this animal model as a useful model for studying the sequelae of cataractogenesis.
authors.affiliation: USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University, Boston, Mass. 02111.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Meydani
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sastre
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dallal
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Blumberg
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D002386:Cataract / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D004032:Diet; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005690:Galactose / Q000633:toxicity*; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D005690:Galactose