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Figure 4


Fig. 4. The generation and characterization of {alpha}8S50P/+ {alpha}3-/- and {alpha}8S50P/- {alpha}3+/+ compound mutant mice. (A) Wild-type {alpha}3 connexins were eliminated by breeding the {alpha}8S50P/+ {alpha}3+/+ mice with the {alpha}3-/- knockout mice. Toluidine Blue-stained section of an E15.5 {alpha}8S50P/+ {alpha}3-/- embryonic lens shows a large lumen between posterior primary fiber cells and the anterior epithelium, similar to the {alpha}8S50P/+ {alpha}3+/+ embryonic lens section in Fig. 3C. (B) Wild-type {alpha}8 connexins were eliminated by breeding the {alpha}8S50P/+ {alpha}3+/+ mice with the {alpha}8-/- knockout mice. An E15.5 {alpha}8S50P/- {alpha}3+/+ lens section shows no space between the epithelium and posterior primary fiber cells. (C) A P14 {alpha}8S50P/+ {alpha}3-/- lens section shows degenerated primary fibers in the lens nucleus with relatively normal peripheral secondary fibers. (D) A Toluidine Blue-stained P14 {alpha}8S50P/- {alpha}3+/+ lens section shows severe disruption of fiber cells and ruptured posterior capsule. (E) Lens from an {alpha}8S50P/+ {alpha}3-/- mouse at P21 shows a nuclear cataract but a relatively normal cortex. (F) A lens from a P21 {alpha}8S50P/- {alpha}3+/+ mouse shows a small and ruptured lens with cataract. Scale bars: 50 µm for E15.5 sections; 100 µm for P14 sections; 0.5 mm for P21 lenses.