DEVELOPMENT OF THE LENS CAPSULE OF Rana temporaria ornativentris

The lens capsule is a thick amorphous layer adjacent to the lens epithelia, and thought as a thick basement membrane1). The development of the lens capsule was studied by transmission electron microscopy, using Rana as a material in the present study. Similar observations have been preformed using mammals and birds1-3), but not amphibians. This study was the first attempt to make the developmental procedure of the lens capsule of the amphibia clear. In the early stages (st. 22-24) the lens capsule was a thin layer with small amount of associating collagen fibrils. At st. 26 partial double layers was observed, showing the beginning of the multi-layering. At later stages (st. 28-40) the lens capsules gradually thickened and multi-layered structures were observed. Layers with the repetition of the lucent and the dense layers were clearer in the inner parts of the lens capsules, and the lamina lucida was clear between the lens capsule and the lens epithelia. On the other hand, the outer parts of the lens capsules were more compact and the layered-structures were not clear. The accumulation of the new layer from the outside has been suggested however, the observations in the present study strongly suggested that the newly formed layers were added to the inner sides. 1) Csato W. Z. mikrosk. -anat. Forsch. 103：971-984(1989) 2) Bremer F.M.J. Submicrosc. Cytol. Pathol. 20：557-567(1988) 3) Boeve M.H. et al. Graete's Arch. Clin. Exp. Ophthalmol. 227：589-594(1989)