Hypophysectomy Effect on Lens Epithelium Mitosis and Galactose Cataract Development in Rats

Abstract

Introduction Endocrine disorders, such as diabetes and hypoparathyroidism, are known to be associated with cataracts in both human and experimental eyes.^1-3The possible effects of other endocrine glands on the lens stimulated the present series of experiments. As a preliminary approach to the problem, the effects of hypophysectomy on the mitosis of the lens epithelium and on the development of galactose cataract in the rat were studied. The different criteria utilized to evaluate possible alterations in the lens were (1) the number of mitotic cells in the lens epithelium in static conditions and after colchicine administration; (2) biomicroscopic changes; (3) lens transparency, and (4) the level of total plasma-reducing sugar before and after yeast incubation. Material and Methods Male albino rats (weight 150 gm. at the beginning of each experiment) were obtained from the Hormone Assay Laboratory (Chicago). Hypophysectomized and control animals were born on the same day and