Fig. 4.

Apoptosis analysis at E14.5. (A-C) TUNEL assay. TUNEL⁺ cells were found in the lens epithelial layer and a few in the fiber compartment in Mapk1^CKO lens, whereas none were detected in WT lens. The average number of TUNEL⁺ cells per section is shown (C). (D,E) Cleaved caspase 3 immunofluorescence. Positive cells were mostly localized in the epithelium of the Mapk1^CKO lens. (F-H) Survivin expression. In WT lens epithelium, more survivin⁺ cells were found in the germinative zone (brackets in F) than in the central zone. Survivin expression was reduced in the germinative zone (arrows in G) but not in the central zone in Mapk1^CKO lens. The survivin labeling index (H) was measured by dividing the lens epithelium into three regions, and the number for the peripheral region is the average of the left (0-60°) and right (120-180°) regions. ^*P<0.005; N.S., not significant. Error bars indicate s.e.m. Scale bars: 100 μm.