Spontaneous Corneal Dystrophy and Generalized Basement Membrane Changes in Fischer-344 Rats

Abstract

Groups of young, sexually mature Fischer-344 rats (n = 25/sex) obtained from 3 commercial breeders were examined ophthalmologically and histopathologically to determine the prevalence and severity of corneal basement membrane lesions (corneal dystrophy) and basement membrane changes in select nonocular tissues. Results disclosed a high incidence of corneal basement membrane dystrophy in rats of both sexes from all breeders; however, severity levels were significantly increased in rats obtained from one breeder when compared to others. Furthermore, rats that displayed the most advanced corneal lesions also exhibited more severe basement membrane changes in other organs, especially renal tubules and vascular internal laminae. These findings suggest that both ocular and nonocular dystrophic changes may have been linked through common physiologic (or genetic) mechanisms. Animals that displayed basement membrane lesions were not considered to represent compromised biologic test systems.

Keywords

Renal lamellar bodies renal tubular basement membrane dystrophy vascular basement membrane dystrophy gastric basement membrane dystrophy corneoscleral microgranuloma mineralization

References

Alden CL and Frith CH (1990). The urinary system. In: Handbook of Toxicologic Pathology, WM Haschek and CG Rousseaux (eds). Academic Press, San Diego, pp. 315-387.

Bellhorn RW , Korte GE , and Abrutyn D. (1988). Spontaneous corneal degeneration in the rat. Lab. Anim. Sci. 38(1): 46-50.

Gibbons JD and Pratt JW (1975). P-values: Interpretation and methodology. Am. Stat. 29: 20-25.

Losco PE and Troup CM (1988). Corneal dystrophy in Fischer 344 rats. Lab. Anim. Sci. 38(6): 702-710.

National Research Council ( 1978). Guidefor the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals . NIH Publication 78-23, Bethesda, Maryland.

Snedecor GW and Cochran WG (1980). Statistical Methods, 7th ed. Iowa State University Press, Ames.

Stitzel KA , Bruner RH , Newman EA , Reer PJ , Petersen DW , Alden CL , and Hysell DK (1988). Spontaneous corneal dystrophy in F344 rats. Abstract. Annual Meeting of the Society of Toxicologic Pathologists , Boston.

Whorton JA and Tilsted ( 1984). Cloudy corneas (what's your diagnosis?) Lab. Anim. 13(6): 21-22.

Yoshitomi K. (1990). Blood and lymphatic vessels . In: Pathology of the Fischer Rat, GA Boorman , SL Eustis , MR Elwell , CA Montgomery, Jr. , and WF Mackenzie (eds). Academic Press, New York, pp. 473-484.

10.

Yoshitomi K. and Boorman GA (1990). Eye and associated glands In: Pathology of the Fischer Rat, GA Boorman , SL Eustis , MR Elwell , CA Montgomery, Jr , and WF Mackenzie (eds). Academic Press, New York, pp. 239-259.