Endogenous bioelectric currents promote differentiation of the mammalian lens.

ABSTRACT: The functional roles of bioelectrical signals (ES) created by the flow of specific ions at the mammalian lens equator are poorly understood. We detected that mature, denucleated lens fibers expressed high levels of the α1 and β1 subunits of Na⁺ /K⁺ -ATPase (ATP1A1 and ATP1B1 of the sodium pump) and had a hyperpolarized membrane potential difference (V_mem ). In contrast, differentiating, nucleated lens fiber cells had little ATP1A1 and ATP1B1 and a depolarized V_mem . Mimicking the natural equatorial ES with an applied electrical field (EF) induced a striking reorientation of lens epithelial cells to lie perpendicular to the direction of the EF. An EF also promoted the expression of β-crystallin, aquaporin-0 (AQP0) and the Beaded Filament Structura

SUBMITTER: Cao L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5724684 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature