Simultaneous demonstration of microfilaments and intermediate-sized filaments in the lens by double immunofluorescence

Actin- and vimentin filaments (microfilaments and intermediate-sized filaments) are the major components of the lens fiber cytoskeleton. Indirect immunofluorescence suggests a quite different localization of the two kinds of filamentous structures. Actin can only be visualized along the fiber plasma membrane, while vimentin-containing elements seem to fill up the cytoplasmic space. The results are independent of the sequence of staining.