[The senescence-accelerated oxys rats--a genetic model of premature aging and age-dependent degenerative diseases].

The genetic model of accelerated senescence and the associated diseases--the OXYS strain of rats--was created using selection and inbreeding of Wistar rats sensitive to cataractogenic effects of galactose. In the first 5 generations, the development of cataract was induced by galactose overconsumption, and after that, the rats were selected for early spontaneous cataract. Genetically linked with the latter was a set of features of accelerated senescence, which were inherited by the subsequent generations of the animals. At present, we have a 103rd generation of OXYS rats, who at young age develop retinopathy (similar to age-related macular degeneration in humans), osteoporosis, arterial hypertension, accelerated thymus involution, sarcopenia, and neurodegenerative changes in the brain (with the features characteristic of Alzheimer's disease), besides the cataract. This review discusses possible mechanisms of the accelerated senescence: the results of comparison of retinal transcriptomes between OXYS and Wistar(control) rats at different ages, studies of the markers of Alzheimer's disease in the retina and in certain brain regions, and the outcome of the efforts to develop congenic strains of animals via a transfer of several quantitative trait loci (QTLs) of chromosome 1 from OXYS to WAG rats that are associated with the signs of accelerated senescence. The uniqueness of OXYS rats lies in the complex composition of manifestations of the traits; accordingly, this rat model can be used not only for studies of the mechanisms of aging and pathogenesis of the age-related diseases but also for objective evaluation of new methods of treatment and prevention.