Figure 9. Disruption of N-cadherin and α-catenin co-localization in the fiber cell compartment of Dlg-1 mutant mice.

Longitudinally oriented, paraffin embedded eye sections from control (A,C,E,G,I), Dlg10 (B,F,J) and Dlg39 (D,H,K) E17.5 embryos (A,B,E,F) and P2 (C,D,G,H, I, J, K) mice were subjected to double immunofluorescence with anti-N-cadherin (green) and anti-α-catenin (red) antibodies. Shown are representative images of the transition zones (A-H) and posterior (I-L) regions of the lenses. A, C: Merged image of N-cadherin and α-catenin immunostaining in lenses from control E17.5 (A) and P2 (C) mice showing co-localization (yellow) along the lateral membranes and posterior tips of fiber cells (arrows). B, D: Merged image of N-cadherin and α-catenin immunostaining in lenses from Dlg10 (B) and Dlg39 (D) mice showing reduced co-localization and reduced α-catenin staining. E, G: Unmerged images showing strong α-catenin staining along the membranes and posterior tips in control E17.5 (E) and P2 (G) lenses (arrows). F, H: Unmerged images showing reduced α-catenin staining in lenses of Dlg10 (F) and Dlg39 (H) mice (arrows). I: Immunostaining for N-cadherin posterior to the transition zone in lenses from control E17.5 embryos. Note the reorientation of the basal tips of the fiber cells along the capsule from concave to convex (white arrowheads vs. yellow arrowheads) and the highly ordered arrangement of the fiber cells. J, K: Immunostaining for N-cadherin posterior to the transition zone in lenses from Dlg10 (J) and Dlg39 (K) P2 lenses. Note that the basal tips of the fibers are randomly organized with respect to the capsule (yellow arrowheads). Also note the disruption of fiber cell organization. f=fibers. Scale bar=50μm.