Morphology of hereditary mouse cataract

Abstract

Histological changes of hereditary cataractous mice lens were studied by light and electron microscope. Until the sixth postnatal day the lens of the defective mouse appeared to develop normally. However, immediately after this period, the denucleation process of the lens cells appeared impaired. Another abnormality observed at this period is the swelling at the distal portion of the lens fibers in the deep posterior suture area of the perinuclear zones. In the bow area, the lens of 12–13-day-old mice the abnormal persistence of the nuclei becomes most apparent. In addition, the lens cells which had failed to show normal denucleation appear to become hydropic. Electron microscopic study revealed that the cytoplasm of the affected lens fibers contained coarse granular substance and many micro-organelles, which are absent in the normal lens fibers.