Histochemical studies of the separation of the lens vesicle in the mouse.

Histochemical studies were carried out in the mouse on the changes and distribution patterns of glycosaminoglycan molecular species during the separation of the lens vesicle. To obtain embryos, pregnant mice of the Jcl:ICR strain were sacrificed on day 10.5 or 11 of pregnancy. Serial frontal sections were strained with hematoxylin-eosin and sensitized high iron diamine. To identify glycosaminoglycan molecular species in tissues, an enzyme digestion (double digestion with chondroitinase B and testicular hyaluronidase) and a chemical modification (nitrous acid treatment) were performed in combination with the sensitized high iron diamine method. Before separation of the lens vesicle, chondroitin sulfate A/C and B were found in the basement membrane of the future corneal epithelium and intercellular matrices between the future corneal epithelium and lens vesicle, and chondroitin sulfate A/C was identified in the lens capsule. After separation of the lens vesicle, heparan sulfate emerged in the basement membrane of the future corneal epithelium and intercellular matrices between the future corneal epithelium and lens vesicle. These results indicate that the changes and distribution pattern of glycosaminoglycan molecular species play an important role during the separation of the lens vesicle.