HEREDITARY DEGENERATION OF THE RAT RETINA

Abstract

613cataract than the retinal lesion itself.This point is being more fully investigated.The cataract is not due to a disturbance in the blood supply to the eye; the vessels of the retina and choroid were found to be healthy at the time of onset of the lens changes; the iris and ciliary body were found to be normal.Nor is it likely that the cataract results from some general metabolic disturbance, since the two eyes of an animal are not always affected to the same extent.The animals appear to be healthy and their diet is adequate in all known dietary essentials.It is interesting to note that Jess (1925) described an hereditary and congenital cataract occurring in a colony of white rats.Ihirty-four per cent. of the 300 eyes examined by him were affected.The cataract consisted of granular opacities in the anterior cortex; the number, size and density of these opacities varied greatly, often appearing as a thick " bee-swarm " in an otherwise clear lens.From this description it appears that Jess's cataract is different from the one described here.