Cytoarchitectural changes in lens epithelium of galactose-fed rats.

Whole mounts of lens epithelia from rats fed on a galactose-rich diet for one, two, three or seven days were examined for morphological alterations. The meridional rows of epithelia from lenses of animals fed on galactose for seven days were found to be grossly disorganized or abnormally elongated. There was some indication that the cells were edematous and that the epithelium had become multilayered. These abnormalities apparently extended into the transitional zone. Evidence of the cytoarchitectural changes was present as early as one day after institution of the 30% galactose diet and progressed steadily over the period of observation. The findings provide support for the hypothesis that loss of meridional row integrity is a phenomenon common to development of most types of cortical cataracts.