Fig. 3.

Embryonic defects observed in aPKCλ cko lenses (E18.5). HE staining of lens sections. The shape of the aPKCλ cko lens appeared normal (B), but the lens fibre layer was distorted and the apical tips of elongating fibre cells (arrowheads) were detached from the anterior lens epithelial cells. Abnormal extracellular spaces can be seen (large arrow) in the lens fibre cell mass. The anterior lens epithelial cell layer was thinner in aPKCλ cko lens than in the control lens. Asterisks in the control lens (A) indicate the lens equator where the adherent apical tips of the differentiating lens fibre cells form the lens fulcrum, a region where the tips of the differentiating epithelial cells and their earliest fibre cell derivatives accumulate. Scale bar shows 200 μm.