December 1998
Volume 39, Issue 13
Free
Articles  |   December 1998
SPARC deficiency leads to early-onset cataractogenesis.
Author Affiliations
  • K Norose
    The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA.
  • J I Clark
    The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA.
  • N A Syed
    The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA.
  • A Basu
    The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA.
  • E Heber-Katz
    The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA.
  • E H Sage
    The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA.
  • C C Howe
    The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA.
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science December 1998, Vol.39, 2674-2680. doi:
  • Views
  • PDF
  • Share
  • Tools
    • Alerts
      ×
      This feature is available to authenticated users only.
      Sign In or Create an Account ×
    • Get Citation

      K Norose, J I Clark, N A Syed, A Basu, E Heber-Katz, E H Sage, C C Howe; SPARC deficiency leads to early-onset cataractogenesis.. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 1998;39(13):2674-2680.

      Download citation file:


      © ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)

      ×
  • Supplements
This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access.
Abstract

PURPOSE: To determine the role of SPARC (secreted protein, acidic, and rich in cysteine) in cataractogenesis by examining mice deficient in a matricellular protein SPARC. METHODS: Mice were rendered SPARC-deficient by a targeted disruption of the gene. Slit-lamp microscopy and histology were used to examine the eyes of SPARC-null and wild-type mice from birth to 14 months of age. RESULTS: SPARC-null mice developed opacities in the posterior cortex of the eye as early as 1.5 months after birth. The diffuse cataracts appeared to progress toward the anterior cortex and reached maturity in many animals by 3.5 months of age. Early stages of cataractogenesis in SPARC-null mice included inhibition of normal lens fiber cell differentiation, degeneration of fiber cells, vacuole formation at the equator, and liquefaction of the cortex. No cataracts were detected in wild-type mice up to the age of 8 months. CONCLUSIONS: The early onset of cataracts in SPARC-null mice establishes that the gene is essential to the maintenance of lens transparency.

×
×

This PDF is available to Subscribers Only

Sign in or purchase a subscription to access this content. ×

You must be signed into an individual account to use this feature.

×