Fig. 8

Fig. 8 Development of the lens. All panels show a dorsoventral section through the lens, dorsal up, lateral to the right. (a) 24 hpf. The lens (L) is spherical but still attached to the skin and surrounded on three sides by the retina (R). (b) 30 hpf. The cornea (C) is now separate, and the cuboidal epithelium (CE) on the lateral surface is distinct from the less structured core (*). (c) 36 hpf. The onionskin organization of the core is now apparent. (d) 48 hpf. The core is noticeably denser than the outside of the lens, and the cuboidal lateral epithelium contrasts with the concentrically organized medial side. (e) 60 hpf. The dense core has enlarged and the concentric laminae are thinner. The medial side begins to bulge, giving the lens an egg shape. (f) 72 hpf. Most of the surface of the lens now touches the retina, the egg shape remains, and the dense core is larger and denser. The scale bar in f applies to all panels.