Figure 3.

Long-term observations for cataract formation and kidney enlargement in STZ- and sham-injected rats. The presence of cataracts was checked by visual inspection weekly or biweekly. The first cataracts were observed 9 weeks after a STZ injection, and 73% of the animals had cataracts 60 weeks after a STZ injection. No cataracts were observed in age-matched sham animals (a). Five to 6 STZ-injected animals died or were sacrificed at weeks 9, 21, and 25; in these animals, their kidneys were enlarged compared to age-matched sham animals. At terminal sacrifice, week 60, all STZ-injected animals (n = 15) had some degree of kidney enlargement and kidney stones, sham rats did not (n = 5–10) (b). N = 5–20, percent, mean ± s.e. were calculated from each group at each time point, α = 2, Student's t-test, ^∗∗p < 0.01, ^∗∗∗p < 0.001 (compared to sham).