Spontaneous Cataract Model Animals

1. Rat and Mouse

Abstract

Current information about spontaneous cataract model animals of rats and mice is introduced in this review. Oxidative damages are considered to be related to cataract development in the heterozygote type in UPL rats, Ihara Cataract Rats (ICR), RCS rats, Emory mice and SAM mice. Abnormalities in ion-pomp were reported in the ICR and Nakano mice. Protein denaturation induced by activation in protease is occurred in the UPL rats and Shumiya Cataract rats. These hereditary cataract models may contribute a research in human cataract formation and a development of new therapeutic methods.

On the other hand, the cataract models in which morphological abnormalities are initiated during gestation period, for example, homozygote type in UPL rats, Bmn rats, Cts mice, Cataract-Fraser mice and Elo mice, also show microphthalmos. These models might be used for research in congenital human cataract with microphthalmos.