[Breeding of cataract rat strain (ICRF/Kmu//Yg)]

A inbred strain, ICRF, which can be used as a model of both human cataract and epilepsy is described. The strain was bred from the ICR cataractous rat (Ihara, 1983). The original ICR strain showed bilateral cataract on 11-12 weeks of age, but the cataractous syndrome frequently disappeared during life. In the new ICRF strain the cataractous syndrome continued through the life, as shown by primary investigation of 38 males and 32 females. Besides cataract, severe epilepsy-like seizures were observed in 90% of the males. Seizures were rare in females (3%). The life span of the ICRF rats was short, 58% of the males and 6% of the females died before 52 weeks of age.