Expression Of TGF-β1,bFGF In Lens Epithelial Cells Of Human Fetus At Different Stages

[Purpose]To evaluate the existence of growth factor TGF-β1(TGF-β1)and basic fibroblast growth factor(bFGF)in lens epithelial cells in different fetal ages by the way of immunohistochemistry.To discover some regularities in the development of lens.[Methods]Thirty human fetal eyes ranging in age from 8 to 20 pregnant weeks were carefully extracted within 30 minutes of death,The vertical and horizontal lines were measured,the lens were tested transparent.The eyeballs were immersed in formalin of 10%in the refrigerator which the temperature was 4℃.Then,the eyeballs were made into paraffin section. The morphologic alternations were examined by light microscope.The expressions of TGF-β1 and bFGF in the lens of the fetal eyes with different ages were determined by immuohistochemistry,and analyze the correlation between TGF-β1 and bFGF.[Results]1 The eyeball of the human fetus was developed with pregnant week,but the speed was different.The eyeball made slow progress before 12^th.The rapid development period of the human eyeball was between the 16^thto 20^thpregnant week.2 When examined by light microscope,the capsula lentis was characterized with transparent and no-cellular structure at 8^thpregnant week.The capsula lentis thicken with pregnant week.At 8^thpregnant week,the lens epithelial cells were characterized with simple cuboidal epithelium in good order beneath the capsula lentis,but the equator of lens epithelial cells were characterized with fusiform and changed into fibrae lentis slowly.The lens epithelial cells of posterior capsula elongated to the equator with age.At 16^thpregnant week,The lens epithelial cells of posterior capsula all turned into fibrae lentis.3 The expressions of TGF-β1 and bFGF in the lens epithelial cells were determined by immunohistochemistry during different periods of fetal development.TGF-β1 was expressed in highest amount at the 8^thto 10^th pregnant week and decreased thereafter,while bFGF expression peaked at the 8^thto 10^thweek and decreased gradually.4.The positive correlation had been found between bFGF and TGF-β1 (r=0.88079)(P＜0.05)[Conclusions]1TGF-β1 and bFGF were expressed in different fetal ages.2 The expression of TGF-β1 decreased gradually with fetal ages.3 The expression of bFGF decreased gradually with fetal ages.4 TGF-β1 and bFGF have a positive correlation in the development of lens.