Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: Characterize the gross lenticular morphology, by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and confocal microscopy, of normal mice and mice with targeted disruption alphaA- and alphaB-crystallin genes. Methods: Lenses from 129SvEvTac mice (wild type) and mice with the targeted disruption of alphaA- and alphaB-crystallin genes were examined by standard scanning electron microscopy and confocal microscopy. Results: Equatorial and axial (sagittal) dimensions of lenses for alphaA/BKO mice were significantly smaller than age-matched wild type lenses. No posterior sutures or fiber cells extending to the posterior capsule were found in alphaA/BKO lenses. Aberrant nucleic acid staining was observed in the posterior subcapsular region of 5 wk and anterior subcapsular cortex of 54 wk alphaA/BKO lenses. Gross morphological differences were observed in the equatorial, posterior and anterior regions of lenses from alphaA/BKO mice as compared to wild type mice. Conclusions: The results, in conjunction with previous studies (Brady et al., 2001), indicate that predominately alphaA-crystallin, and to a lesser extent, alphaB-crystallin, are necessary for lens transparency, and may be essential for proper fiber cell formation.
Keywords: 378 crystallins • 315 anatomy • 343 chaperones