Establishment of the hereditary cataract rat strain (SCR) and genetic analysis

The Shumiya cataract rat (SCR) and normal control rat strains of NC1 and NC2 were established. Mean cataract appearance in adult SCR rats was 66.7%, and embryo death rate was 25%. Genetic analysis of cataract formation in the SCR was studied by breeding experiments with strains such as NC1, BUF, ACI, AD3, and normal SCR rats. No sex-based differences in cataract appearance were observed in any of the progeny. These results confirmed our hypotheses that two autosomal genes, a recessive cataract gene (ctr1), and a normal allele of a dominant cataract gene with a recessive lethal trait (Ctr2(1)) for provisional designations participated in cataract genesis in SCR (ctr1/ctr1, Ctr2(1)/Ctr2) rats. One recessive cataract gene was maintained in normal SCR, NC1 and NC2 (ctr1/ctr1, Ctr2/Ctr2) rats. The same recessive cataract gene was retained in the albumin-deficient brown hooded rat strain AD3 (ctr1/ctr1, Ctr2/Ctr2).