[The occurrence of cataract in rats as one of the factors worsening the quality of their lives in the late periods after whole-body and partial irradiation].

A study was made of the formation of cataract in rats at remote times after whole-body and partial X irradiation. The whole-body radiation loses were 5 and 10 Gy (two fractions of 5 Gy at a 30-day interval). Partial exposure of the head and neck, as well as irradiation of chest were performed with doses of 5, 10 (two fractions at a 30-day interval) and 15 Gy (three 5 Gy fractions at a 30-day interval). It has been shown that cataract develops not only due to the direct effect of radiation on the eye, but also to indirect effect on the experimental animal body (with irradiation of the abdomen and diabetes development).