Figure 2.

Lens specification and differentiation is not altered in the moderately affected Six3^f/Δ;Le-Cre mutants. Expression of FoxE3 (A′), Prox1 (B′), and β-crystallin (C′) in the moderately affected E12.5 lenses indicated that placode formation and lens differentiation had occurred in some Six3^f/Δ;Le-Cre embryos. Nevertheless, the polarity of the lens vesicle was affected; persistent abnormal FoxE3 expression was detected in the posterior part of the lens vesicle (A′, arrow). (D′) Increased apoptosis was detected in E10.5 Six3-mutant lens pit (arrowhead in rectangle; 3±1% for the control, 25±5% for the mutant, n=3). (E–E′) The percentage of BrdU⁺ cells was normal in E10.5 Six3-mutant lens pit (arrowhead in rectangle; 42±0.6% for the control, 41±1% for the mutant, n=3); however, ectopic BrdU⁺ cells were found in the posterior part of the lens vesicle at E12.5 (arrowheads in F′).