Figure 2

Scanning electron micrographs showing how nuclear morphometry was performed. A. Measurements of elliptical angles in the fetal nucleus (FN) were made on micrographs of split lens nuclei, allowing for exposure of the radial cell columns. A distance of 1 mm was measured from the lens center (white line) and the fetal fibers were traced (white dots). Similarly, a distance 2.5 mm was measured from the lens center (white line + black line) and the fetal fibers at that point were traced (black dots). Angle measurements were made using ellipse templates. B. Higher magnification view of the embryonic nucleus (EN). The anterior-posterior (A-P) axis was measured between the two arrows, which are placed at the anterior and posterior poles of the EN. Note that the borders of the EN are demarcated by the initiation of fetal suture planes. C-D. Micrographs illustrating how the average number of fibers per 10 μm was measured. Fibers at 1 mm from the lens center (along the equatorial axis) were followed to their anterior (panel C) or posterior (panel D) ends and photographed. Multiple measures of the number of fiber ends per 10 μm were made across each micrograph, and then averaged.