RNA and protein analysis of an X-ray-induced hereditary cataract in rat.

We have analyzed the consequences of a mutation causing a recessive hereditary cataract in the rat. The lenses of these rats were examined both by histological and molecular biological methods. In the mutant rat lens development starts normally during early fetal life, but becomes progressively disrupted. The structure of the lens is clearly abnormal around the time of birth. Surprisingly, changes at the molecular level occur much later than the histological effects can be observed. Lens epithelial and cortex fiber cells apparently continue to synthesize the lens-specific crystallin mRNAs and proteins in spite of the damaged fiber cells.