Fig. 9. Wnt CM induces alteration in the protein levels of cadherins and p57^Kip2 in epithelial cells pre-treated with FGF2. Explants were cultured for 5 days with control medium (lane F/C) or Wnt3a CM (lane F/W), after pre-stimulation with FGF2 for 1 hour. Lens epithelium (lane LE) and differentiating lens cells of the zone of early elongation at equator (lane FC) were isolated from neonatal rat lens. Cell lysates were separated by 10% SDS-PAGE and probed with antibodies against E-cadherin, N-cadherin, p27^Kip1 or p57^Kip2. E-cadherin levels were decreased and N-cadherin levels increased after treatment with FGF2/Wnt CM, consistent with the changes seen during fiber cell differentiation (A). p57^Kip2 levels increased in explants treated with FGF2/Wnt CM, similar to the increase in differentiating fiber cells. However, p27^Kip1 levels were not affected by FGF2/Wnt CM, unlike the expression pattern seen in differentiating fiber cells (B). Actin was used as a loading control.