Modification of the cataractous phenotype by somatic cell hybridization.

Characterized mouse lens epithelial cell cultures and their clonal isolates obtained from normal and cataractous mice display a finite life-span. The cells of cataractous origin have a decreased number of population doubling levels compared to the capacity of the normal cells to replicate in vitro. Hybrid cells derived from individual cell fusions of normal (CD-1, DBA/2) and cataractous (Catfr) lens epithelial cells have a mode of replication similar to that of normal cells. These results demonstrate that the abnormal in vitro replicative state of the cataractous cells has been modified by the addition of normal lens epithelial cell components.