IN-VIVO MORPHOLOGICAL-CHANGES IN RAT LENSES INDUCED BY THE ADMINISTRATION OF PREDNISOLONE AFTER SUBLIMINAL X-IRRADIATION - A PRELIMINARY-REPORT

In order to induce steroid cataracts in rat lenses, prednisolone X-irr adiation acetate was administered together with a single subliminal Pr ednisolone dose of X-irradiation, which was applied unilaterally befor e steroid application started. The rats were divided into a control gr oup (without prednisolone acetate administration), a group with a topi cally administered daily dose of 1 mg/kg prednisolone acetate suspensi on and a group with a systemically applied daily dose of 0.8-1.0 mg/kg prednisolone acetate suspension, Changes in the lens were objectively evaluated with in vivo Scheimpflug slit images during a 30-week perio d, Although body weight increase was significantly affected in both gr oups administered prednisolone, animals survived until the end of the observation period, The initial changes in the lens were the dissociat ion of the Y-suture and a slight increase in scattering light intensit y at the posterior embryonic nucleus after both topical and systemic s teroid administration.