• observed in females

• age related accumulation of esterified cholesterol in the basement of the retinal pigment epithelial layer

• losses in rod and cone sensitivity only after 14 months of age

• age related accumulation of esterified cholesterol in the basement of the retinal pigment epithelial layer

• elevated relative to mice lacking the transgene at 6 months regardless of diet

• difference from controls lacking the transgene persists on a high fat diet but not on a normal diet at 15 months

• plasma insulin levels are 2X control levels at 6 months in fed mice and fasted mice on a high fat diet

• fasted mice on a normal diet do not show elevated insulin

• reduced insulin sensitivity over the course of an insulin tolerance test

• sustained elevation of blood glucose during a glucose tolerance test regardless of diet

• blood insulin is unchanged over the course of a glucose tolerance test

• lesion thickness increases more on a high fat diet than does lesion area

• increased calcification of lesions after 15 months on a high fat diet, particularly for females