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Introduction: Among the components of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and basement membrane (BM), laminitis heterotrimeric glycoprotein (laminin) and collagen type IV are the most important. In a previous study we have examined the role of collagen type IV in the developing lens capsule. The present study aims to determine the appearance and distribution of laminin in the BM and ECM of lenses during visual system morphogenesis.

Materials and Methods: Pregnant Balb/C mice were randomly selected and maintained under normal conditions. The presence of a vaginal plug was assumed as day zero of pregnancy. From embryonic days 11 to 20, pregnant animals were sacrificed and their fetuses were collected for histotechnical prossessing.

Results: Our data revealed that laminin appeared during the early stage of gestation (day 12) in the BM of the anterior epithelial lens cells. The amount of laminin gradually increased in the ECM and posterior lens capsule epithelial cells until days 14-18. After this period, a strongly positive laminin reaction was not observed in any part of the lens structure.

Conclusion: These findings establish the importance of the laminin molecule in the developing optic cup (OC) and lens differentiation. It could be assumed that any changes in the presence of laminin during the critical period of eye development may result in visual system defects such as cataracts or congenital eye abnormalities.

Keywords: Laminin, Mice, Lenses, Growth and development

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