Abstract
Mitchell and Dodge 1 report the occurrence of cataracts in rats fed on a high lactose diet. A similar investigation conducted in our laboratory corroborated their ocular findings. It was therefore considered of interest to determine whether cataracts could be provoked with galactose.
Eight female albino rats, 21 days old and weighing approximately 40 gm. were fed a diet consisting of 50% galactose, 20% cornstarch, 15% caseine, 9% crisco, 4% (Osborn and Mendel) salt mixture, and 2% cod liver oil. In addition, 5 drops of cod liver oil and 0.5 gm. dried yeast powder were fed separately each day.
The rats on this diet appeared well nourished and grew as well as the animals on the standard laboratory ration described by Bing and Smith. 2 In the course of 12 to 14 days, the young animals developed changes in the lens of the eye. The manifestation was bilateral. It was apparent from daily examination of the eyes that the lenticular changes developed in the nucleus of the lens.
Six animals were sacrificed for histological study and 2 were allowed to stay on the same diet. At autopsy no gross pathological changes were noted. The liver, kidney, adrenal, thyroid, and parathyroid glands were fixed for future histological study.
At the end of 7 weeks the remaining 2 animals have matured cataracts in both eyes and are still growing well. They show none of the deficiency manifestations noted in albino rats on diets lacking vitamin A or G. At no time during the experiment was a gastrointestinal disturbance noted.
Because of the nuclear changes in the lens of young animals it was important to determine the effect of a similar diet on older animals.
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