The effect of light deprivation on the mouse lens

This work was undertaken to test the hypothesis that first exposure of the eye to light is responsible for the changes in lens protein expression patterns observed around the time of birth. The effect of light deprivation on lens properties was examined in Balb c mice which were bred, reared and maintained in complete darkness for up to 7 months. Data were collected on body weight, lens weight, lens protein contents and crystallin distributions. The data were compared with those obtained from age matched mice maintained in natural light/dark conditions. No significant differences were observed in body weight between animals maintained in the light and dark. However, animals kept in the dark had significantly smaller lenses. After 6 months in the dark, the lens represented 0.02% of body weight compared with 0.031% in the light reared animals (P < 0.001). Lens protein concentration, insoluble protein contents and crystallin synthesis patterns were indistinguishable for the two groups of animals. It is concluded that light stimulation of the eye is required for optimal lens growth but does not affect the production of specific crystallins.