Abnormal Protein and Nucleic Acid Metabolism as a Cause of Cataract Formation Induced by Nutritional Deficiency in Rabbits.

A WDE variety of nutritional deficiencies producing gradual loss of transparency in the human lens as well as in the lenses of laboratory animals, has been reported (Oomen, 1954; Pirie and van Heyningen, 1956). The development of lenticular opacities and finally the liquefaction of lens fibres are the visible changes among these affected animals (Passmore, 1947). Pathologically, muscular dystrophy in rabbits, induced by vitamin E deficiency, closely resembles hereditary muscular dystrophy (Mason, 1960). Previously, changes in the nucleic acid and protein metabolism of the lens in hereditary muscular dystrophy had been shown (Srivastava, Devi, and Sarkar, 1963). In the present study cataracts have been induced in rabbits maintained on a vitamin E-deficient diet and the metabolism of nucleic acid and of proteins in the lenses of these animals has been investigated. It is hoped that the results of this investigation may indicate that cataract developed by nutritional deficiency resembles the cataract formed by hereditary dystrophy, although the primary cause of these two diseases is not the same.