Interaction of galactose and dietary protein deficiency on rat lens.

Protein deficiency, a frequently encountered nutritional disorder of developing countries is known to affect the proliferative and synthetic activities of several cell systems. But neither all the organs are affected at the same time nor at the same rate. The lens, which is an unique organ has been shown to suffer in protein malnutrition but without any clinically discernible changes. Clinical evidence suggests, early onset of senile cataract in underdeveloped countries is possibly due to protein deficiency. In the present investigation, it has been shown that addition of small concentrations of galactose to the diet readily induces cataracts in protein-deficient rats. This therefore supports the contention that protein deficiency alone may not produce morphological changes but exogenous or endogenous cataractogenic insults, may produce lenticular opacification in the protein-deficient state.