biostudies-literatureOltean ANIBIB NIH HHSNational Institute of HealthNINDS NIH HHS025001https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC5839477biostudies-literatureUnknown15(2)During the initial stages of eye development, optic vesicles grow laterally outward from both sides of the forebrain and come into contact with the surrounding surface ectoderm (SE). Within the region of contact, these layers then thicken locally to create placodes and invaginate to form the optic cup (primitive retina) and lens vesicle (LV), respectively. This paper examines the biophysical mechanisms involved in LV formation, which consists of three phases: (1) lens placode formation; (2) invagination to create the lens pit (LP); and (3) closure to form a complete ellipsoidally shaped LV. Previous studies have suggested that extracellular matrix deposited between the SE and optic vesicle causes the lens placode to form by locally constraining expansion of the SE as it grows, while actomyPhysical biologyApoptosis generates mechanical forces that close the lens vesicle in the chick embryo.PMC5839477T32 EB014855R01 NS070918NIH T32 EB014855Oltean ATaber LAfalseApoptosis generates mechanical forces that close the lens vesicle in the chick embryo.During the initial stages of eye development, optic vesicles grow laterally outward from both sides of the forebrain and come into contact with the surrounding surface ectoderm (SE). Within the region of contact, these layers then thicken locally to create placodes and invaginate to form the optic cup (primitive retina) and lens vesicle (LV), respectively. This paper examines the biophysical mechanisms involved in LV formation, which consists of three phases: (1) lens placode formation; (2) invagination to create the lens pit (LP); and (3) closure to form a complete ellipsoidally shaped LV. Previous studies have suggested that extracellular matrix deposited between the SE and optic vesicle causes the lens placode to form by locally constraining expansion of the SE as it grows, while actomy2018-01-01T00:00:00Z2018 Feb2025-04-04T23:13:57.986Z2019-03-26T22:50:08ZS-EPMC58394772891461510.1088/1478-3975/aa8d0e