The influence of aging on the development of rat galactosemic cataract

In order to investigate the effect of age on the rat galactosemic cataract, 3, 6, 12 and 24-week-old rats were fed with a 50% galactose diet. The cataractous lenses were observed by light microscopy, and the amount of galactitol measured. All rats fed with 50% galactose developed cataracts in the equatorial region. However, the morphological and biochemical development of the galactose cataract in old rats was slower than in young rats. These results suggested that older diabetic patients are less likely to develop diabetic cataract than younger patients.