Ocular Lesions Induced in C57 Mice by the Suckling Mouse Cataract Agent (SMCA)

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Abstract

The biomicroscopic study of C57 mice inoculated with suckling mouse cataract agent (SMCA) presented the opportunity to observe the clinical evolution of a virus-induced cataract. It was possible to describe seven clinical stages of cataract development, progressing from minimal capsular changes to mature cataract formation followed by lens absorption. These changes progressed through five distinct patterns of cataract evolution. Histopathological studies showed that marked retinal, uveal, and lens changes preceded severe clinical lens changes by many days. Virus replication in the eye began very early and persisted during the development of the lenticular and retinal pathology. The data do not permit determination of whetherlens changes are secondary to viral retinitis and uveitis, or result from direct virus infection of the lens