[Ultrastructural study of lens fiber cells by quick-freezing and deep-etching]

The ultrastructure of lens fiber cytoskeleton was studied by quick-freezing and deep-etching. Lenses of 5 Wistar male rats were divided into lens cortex and lens nucleus. Filamentous structures were clearly observed in the cortical fiber cells, which had diameters in 10 approximately 15 nm or about 5 nm. They showed a meshwork structure. On the other hand, the filamentous structures showed a linear, dense, and laminar pattern in the nuclear fiber cells. These ultrastructural changes of cytoskeletons may be related to the elongation and differentiation of lens fiber cells and may be important for maintaining transparency of the lens.