Figure 3.

Acvr1^CKO lens epithelial cells fail to form the transition zone (A) Schematic representation of the division of lens epithelia (LE) into 15° sectors, showing the location of the germinative zone (GZ) and the transition zone (TZ) of the LE and the lens fiber (LF) compartment. (B) Patterns of BrdU incorporation in different sectors of Acvr1^WT lens epithelia at different stages of development. The BrdU-labeling index declined from E12.5 to P3 in Acvr1^WT epithelia, particularly in the TZ and the central epithelium, establishing the location of the GZ. (C) Distribution of BrdU incorporation in different sectors of Acvr1^CKO lens epithelia during development. No significant change in the BrdU-labeling index of the transition zone was detected from E12.5 to P3. (D, E) Representative images of BrdU-labeled sections of Acvr1^WT (D) and Acvr1^CKO (E) lenses at E12.5, showing the location of the prospective GZ (PGZ) and the prospective TZ (PTZ). (F, G) Representative images of BrdU-labeled sections of Acvr1^WT (F) and Acvr1^CKO (G) lenses at P3, showing the location of the GZ and the TZ. (H) BrdU-labeling index in the transition zone of Acvr1^WT and Acvr1^CKO lens epithelia from E12.5 to P3. (I) Ki67-labeling index in the transition zone of Acvr1^CKO and Acvr1^WT lenses at P3. ** P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001.