Normal Mouse and Rat Strains as Models for Age-related Cataract and the Effect of Caloric Restriction on its Development

The Effect of High and Very Low Fluorescent Light Exposure Levels on Age-related Cataract in a Pigmented Mouse Strain

“…The intent of this study was to determine the in¯uence of high and very low¯uorescent lighting on the rate of development and severity of cataracts in a strain of mice (B6C3F1) that had fully pigmented iris, ciliary body and retina, and which had previously been shown to develop age-related cataract only after mid-lifespan (Wolf et al, 2000). The emission spectrum for the 835 Octron T8¯uorescent lights was kindly furnished by the Sylvania Corp. and this spectrum is displayed in Fig.…”

“…Because of the time and positioning required to hand-restrain each unanesthetized animal and the large number of animals, only the right eye was examined each time. Lens opacity was scored, as previously published (Wolf et al, 2000), from 0 to 4, with 1 representing mild cloudiness, 2 advanced clouding, 3 a degree of opacity that obscured light transmission in a portion of the lens, and 4 a mature cataract that appeared as complete opacity of the lens, often with a ground glass refractory appearance. Only whole number values were assigned.…”

“…We have undertaken to determine the effect of life-long exposure to very bright vs very minimal¯uorescent lighting on the development of age-related cataracts in a commonly used, fully pigmented strain of laboratory mouse, the (C57BL/6 Â C3H)F1, (abbreviated as B6C3F1). These mice normally develop agerelated cataracts gradually and only beyond what represents middle age for this long-lived strain (Turturro et al, 1999;Wolf et al, 2000, and data furnished by the National Institute for Toxicological Research (NCTR), Jefferson AR, on the National Institute on Aging (NIA) colony). Although the high light exposure used in this experiment varied from 66 to 222 foot candles (FC) (713±2397 Lux, international units), depending upon the mouse's position in the cage, and the low exposure used was less than 1 FC (10 .…”

The Benefits of Calorie Restriction and Calorie Restriction Mimetics as Related to the Eye

“…In B6D2F1 mice (C57BL/6 x DBA/2), CR diet attenuated the decline of proliferative capacity of lens epithelial cells (LE) in older mice [38], and in old, CR mice LE cells were more resistant to H 2 O 2 -induced cell damage than LE cells in old, AL mice [39]. Of the two rat strains (Brown Norway & Fischer 344), and three mouse strains (C57BL/6, (C57BL/6 x DBA/2)F1, (C57BL/6 x C3H)F1), CR diet extended life span in all strains, and delayed the first appearance and subsequent severity of cataract in four dark-eyed strains, but not in albino, Fischer 344 rats [40]. Further, in Brown Norway rats, CR diet attenuated age-related shortening of telomeres in LE cells [41]; retarded age-related degeneration of lens by reducing oxidative stress in the lens [42]; and, prevented agerelated decline in glycolytic enzymes, molecular chaperones, and B-crystallin, a lens protein [43].…”

Two techniques of age estimation in cetaceans: GLGs in teeth and earplugs, and measuring the AAR rate in eye lens nucleus

“…Cataract is a condition in the mammalian eye lens that appears to accompany the latter stages of lifespan in all mammals studied (e.g. Williams et al 2004;Fernandes et al 2003 andWolf et al 2000). Studies on humans have shown that cataract of the type brunnescent group IV is especially of major concern (Masters et al 1977).…”