Immunolocalization of Foxe3 (A, B), Pax6 (C, D) and Hes1 (E, F) in E13.5 lenses reveals that these three proteins are found in all LECs of control lenses (A, C, E), while all of these factors are restricted to just a few cells at the anterior surface of E13.5 β1LE lenses (B, D, F; arrowheads). (G, H) Immunolocalization of Maf and (I, J) Prox1. Control lenses express Maf (G) in the fiber cell compartment, while the anterior lens cells of E13.5 β1LE lenses (H- arrowheads) ectopically express c-Maf. In controls, Prox1 (I) is normally expressed in all lens cells, but its levels upregulate at the transition zone coincident with fiber cell differentiation. In contrast, almost all lens cells of E13.5 β1LE lenses (J-arrowheads) express high levels of Prox1 protein. All staining was performed on a minimum of three biological replicates.
Red –(panels A,B)- Foxe3; (panels C, D)- Pax6; (panels E, F)- Hes1; (panels G-H)- Maf; (panels I-J)- Prox1. Abbreviations: le - lens epithelium; tz - transition zone, f - lens fiber cells. Scale bar −71µm.