Mohammad Reza Nikravesh - Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Mehdi Jalali - Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Abbas Ali Moeen - Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol, Iran
Mohammad Hassan Karimfar - Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
Shahin Saeidi Nejat - School of Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Shabnam Mohammadi - Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Houshang Rafighdoost - Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran

Objective(s) Extracellular matrix (ECM) and basement membrane (BM) play important roles in many developmental processes during development and after birth. Among the components of the BM, collagen fibers specially type IV are the most important parts. The aim of this study was to determine the time when collagen type IV appears in the BM of lens structure during mouse embryonic development. Materials and Methods In this experimental study, ۲۲ female Balb/C mice were randomly selected and were kept under normal condition, finding vaginal plug was assumed as day zero of pregnancy. From embryonic day ۱۰ to ۲۰, all specimens were sacrificed by cervical dislocation and their heads were fixed, serially sectioned and immunohistochemistry study for tracing collagen type IV in lens were carried out. Results Our data revealed that collagen type IV appeared at the early stage of gestation day ۱۲ in BM of anterior epithelial lens cells and the amount of this protein gradually increased until days ۱۵-۱۷ in ECM and posterior capsule epithelium. After this period, severe reaction was not observed in any part of the lens. Conclusion These findings establish the important role of collagen IV in developing optic cup and any changes during critical period of pregnancy may be result in severe visual system defect

Basement membrane, Collagen IV, Lens capsul