Mason’s trichrome staining for collagen. Wild-type (A), Smad3-/- (B), TGF-β1/Smad3+/+ (C, E), and TGF-β1/Smad3-/- (D, F) lenses are shown. Arrows: subcapsular plaques; (*) collagen expression in the lens capsules. The expression of TGF-β1 increased collagen deposition in the TGF-β1/Smad3+/+ and TGF-β1/Smad3-/- plaques. However, the collagen deposition in the subcapsular plaques of TGF-β1/Smad3-/- lenses was substantially reduced compared with the TGF-β1/Smad3+/+ lenses. Both the wild-type and Smad3-/- lenses showed normal collagen expression in the lens capsule. Scale bars: (A-D) 100 μm; (E, F) 50 μm.