Findings and pathological characteristics of rat galactose cataract model / 中华实验眼科杂志

ABSTRACT

Background A stable diabetic cataract animal model is a premise for screening and evaluating the drug for cataract therapy.Galactose cataract model is widely used in relevant experimental study,but the onset,extent and the type of lens opacification may be different due to different modeling way.Objective This study was to investigate the manifestations and pathological characteristics of cataract induced by D-galactose.Methods Fifty-six SPF SD rats were randomly divided into cataract-model group and control group and 28 rats for each group.50% D-galactose feed was given daily in model group,and regular feed was given in control group.Lenses of rats were examined under the slit lamp through the 30-day period at a 2-day interval,and then the opacity of lenses was graded on the modified Suryanarayana criteria.The body weight of rats was recorded and compared between two groups at day 5,10,15,20,25 and 30.The lenses samples were obtained for the histopathological examination by hemotoxylin and eosin staining.The wet weight,dry weight of the lenes and their ratio were detected and compared between these two groups.The use of animals followed the Regulation for the Administration of Affair Concerning Experimental Animals by State Science and Technology Commission.Results The body weight was reduced in model rats compared with control rats with the statistically significant difference from 10 days through 30 days(P＜0.05).The different grades of opacification of lens cortical and nuclear progressed in model rats throughout the experiment duration,but the lenses were clear in control rats.The slit-lamp microscopy and pathological examinations revealed that lenses opacity in model rats started from the cortex at the equator zone and developed towards central zone gradually with the lapse of experimental time.Following the entire opacity of lens cortex,lens nucleus were cloudy and expanded.The swelling and degeneration of the fiber cells in lens cortex,the differentiation,migration and denuclearation delay of lens epithelial cells were seen in model rats under the light microscope.The wet weight of lenses was increased and the dry weight was decreased in model rats in comparison with control rats in experimental 30 days,showing significant difference between two groups(t=138.571,t=52.468,P＜0.05).Conclusion The development of galactose-induced cataract animal model resemble one of age-related cortical cataract in human with the similar generating mechanism.This cataract model is reproducible and classifiable.