|
Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) are known to be a good animal model for human essential hypertension. In this study, we investigated the types and incidence of spontaneous ophthalmic diseases of ninety-eight male SHR, ranging from 10 to 20 months old, to elucidate relationship between ophthalmic diseases of SHR with aging. The most commonly observed eye diseases of SHR were cataracts (39/98, 39.8%) and retinal vessel attenuation (RVA; 32/98, 32.7%). Others included chromodacryorrhea (5 cases), keratrtis (2 cases) and uveitis (2 cases). Posterior subcapsular cataract was observed predominantly among various types of cataracts (29/39, 74.4%), followed by focal cataract (9/39, 23.1%). Diffuse, complete or anterior polar cataract were rare types of cataract; each 1 case was observed respectively. According to follow up study of 32 male SHR during 6 to 20 months of age, cataracts were first noticed at 11 months of age, and its mix accumulative incidence was 43.8% at 18 manths of age. RVA was first observed at 11 months of age, and its max accumulative incidence was 46.9% at 18 months of age. About a quarter of RVA (26.7%) was accompanied with cataract. The blood pressure of SHR maintained steady level after the age of 6 months. These results indicate that there may be some relationship between cataract development and RVA which are closely related to duration of hypertension.
|