Expression of cell cycle markers persists in the fiber cell compartment of αA-CLEF lenses.

(A) Cyclin D1 and (E) cyclin D2 expression is detected mainly in the equatorial region and transitional zone of wild-type lenses at E13.5. However, in αA-CLEF lenses, cyclin D1 (B) and cyclin D2 (F) reactivity is detected in the fiber cell compartment. (J) p27Kip1 and (N) p57Kip2 expression is unaltered in E13.5 αA-CLEF lenses compared to wild-type lenses (I, M). At E16.5, (D) cyclin D1, (H) cyclin D2, (I) p27Kip1 and (P) p57Kip2 expression is inappropriately maintained in the fiber compartment in the central part of αA-CLEF lenses compared to wild-type lenses (C, G, K, O), where the highest levels of expression are normally observed at the transitional zone (indicated with green arrowheads) at E16.5. Scale bars indicate 50 µm. Abbreviations: fc, fiber cell compartment.