Time Course of Lens Epithelial Cell Behavior in Rabbit Eyes following Lens Extraction and Implantation of Intraocular Lens

Figure 3

Immunolocalization of α-SMA in pseudophakic rabbit eyes 10 days after cataract surgery. (a) Surrounding type: The flattened and α-SMA-positive LECs cover some parts of the anterior and posterior capsules around the IOL optics. The other parts of the anterior and posterior capsules around the IOL optics have no LECs (arrows). The LECs on the peripheral posterior capsule begin to differentiate and form the Soemmering ring and are negative for α-SMA (large arrowheads), which are separated from the IOL optic by α-SMA-positive LECs around the IOL optic edge (small arrowheads). Bar = 250 μm. (b) Higher power view of (a): although there are some α-SMA-positive LECs on the anterior and posterior capsules (arrows), LECs are absent from other areas of these capsules (arrowheads). Bar = 50 μm. (c) Restricted type: the LECs on the posterior capsules begin to differentiate into lens fiber cells (arrows). Bar = 400 μm. (d) Higner power view of (b): the margin of the anterior capsule is covered with α-SMA-positive, flattened LECs (arrowheads), whereas LECs on the posterior capsule begin to differentiate into lens fibers (arrows). Bar = 125 μm. (a–d) Sections were stained with 3-3’-diaminobenzidine hydrochloride and counterstained with hematoxylin. Asterisks indicate the IOL optic.

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