Figure 4

Standing ionic concentration fields modelled in the mouse lens. 3D quarter section views of the standing concentration fields calculated from the model for the intracellular (A, C, E) and extracellular (B, D, F) space for Na⁺ (A, B), Cl^- (C, D) and K⁺ (E, F). Note that in the extracellular space, a diffusive-conductive gradient was created by the decreasing concentration of Na⁺ from the periphery towards the centre. In the intracellular space, however, the concentration field for Na⁺ was reversed. The small extra- and intracellular Cl^- concentration field in the radial direction is close to its predicted steady state [3]. K⁺ is transported into cells mostly close to the periphery of the ocular lens [16] and so its high concentration at the intracellular space of the surface and accumulation in the core of the extracellular space. The values on the colour-bars are in Molar units.