Changes Associated with the Appearance of Mature Sugar Cataracts.

Analyses for lens sugar alcohols, fructose, glucose, ATP, dry weight, hydration, and extracellular space were made before and after the appearance of mature diabetic and galactose cataracts. The appearance of mature cataracts in galactose-fed rats is associated with a marked and sudden decrease in the level of lens sugar alcohol, ATP, and dry weight, and an increase in lens hydration and extracellular space, as determined with radioactive sorbitol. Similarly, in the lenses from diabetic rats there is a sudden decrease in lens sugar alcohol, fructose, ATP, and dry weight, and an increase in lens glucose, hydration, and extracellular space. The results are interpreted as indicating that the appearance of mature cataracts is associated ivith the disruption of the fiber membranes of the lens.