Congenital cataracts associated with disorganized meridional rows in a new laboratory animal: the degu (Octodon degus).

A new laboratory animal, Octodon degus, a hystricomorph rodent, was found to display a naturally occurring congenital cataract. Histological examination of the lens epithelium revealed that a marked disorganization of the meridional rows is associated with the opacity. Studies of offspring of cataractous parents indicates that the disorganization precedes cataract appearance. These findings are discussed in reference to a general theory of meridional row involvement in a number of types of cataracts.