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Cataract and Other Ocular Changes Resulting from Tryptophane Deficiency¹

Department of Physiological Chemistry, School of Medicine, University of Arkansas, Little Rock

Young rats, from 26 to 78 gm. in weight, which were given a tryptophane-deficient diet developed cataractous changes in from 8 to 82 days. These changes were manifested with or without a concurrent lysine deficiency. The lenticular changes were prevented by supplementation of the diets with 0.1% or 0.2% tryptophane, either when the diet was restricted or given ad libitum. A large proportion of the animals which received diets deficient in both tryptophane and lysine or lacking in either of these amino acids developed vascularity of the cornea. A few showed a generalized ophthalmia.

With the aid of the ophthalmoscope the cataract seen in these animals could be readily distinguished from that resulting both from riboflavin deficiency and from the feeding of galactose or xylose. The vascularity of the cornea seen in these amino acid-deficient animals showed certain features which distinguished it from the vascularity of riboflavin deficiency.

In addition to the ocular lesions noted, other changes associated with the tryptophane deficiency were loss of weight, hunchback, unkempt appearance, alopecia, greasy hair, and nervousness.

Manuscript received 21 April 1942.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. A. ALBANESE, R. MCI. RANDALL, and L. E. HOLT JR. THE EFFECT OF TRYPTOPHANE DEFICIENCY ON REPRODUCTION Science, April 2, 1943; 97(2518): 312 - 313. [PDF]