Extended Data Figure 7. Lens regeneration in rabbits.

a, Haematoxylin and eosin staining of regenerated lenses at different time points after surgery. At postoperative day 1, a monolayer of LECs between the anterior and posterior capsules was visible (arrowheads). At postoperative day 4, LECs proliferated and covered the posterior capsule. At postoperative day 7, LECs in the posterior capsule began to elongate and differentiate. b, At postoperative day 28, LECs in the posterior capsule further elongated, forming primary lens fibres. c, Transparency and shape of regenerated lenses in rabbits. Upper panel, slit-lamp photography of a regenerated lens at different time points after surgery. Lower panel, schematic diagram of slit-lamp photographs in the upper panel. At day 1 after surgery, the capsular opening was clearly seen in the peripheral anterior capsule, and the area of LEC loss during surgery is indicated. At 7 weeks after surgery, loss of LECs led to adhesion between the anterior and the posterior capsule and inhibition of lens regeneration in this area.