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Purpose: We showed previously that AQP0 participates in maintaining lens biomechanics (Kumari et al., 2015, 462: 339). The present study was undertaken to explore whether AQP0 and BF proteins (CP49 and filensin) together play a role in regulating lens stiffness and resilience which are necessary for ocular lens accommodation.

Methods: AQP0 heterozygous knockout mouse expressing CP49 and filensin (AQP0+/-/BF+/+), and AQP0 heterozygous knockout without BF proteins (AQP0+/-/BF-/-) were developed in C57BL/6J strain. Genomic PCR, immunostaining and Western blotting were performed to study the expression or lack of BF proteins, as appropriate. Compression strain test was conducted to study lens stiffness and resilience. Each lens was subjected to gentle compressive strain using weighed glass coverslips. Sagittal images of lens shape changes were digitized. ImageJ software (NIH) was used to …