The ultrastructure of the eye of the mosquitofish Gambusia affinis.

The ultrastructure of the tissue components of the eye of Gambusia affinis, excluding the sensory cells, is described. The cornea consists of two different sections of collagenous layers of different density. The choroid includes an argentea composed of alpha- and beta-melanophores, lipopterinophores and a choriocapillaris associated with the rete mirabile of the choroid body, Bruch's membrane, underlying the retinal pigment layer, can develop complex associations with fibroblasts delimiting the choriocapillaris. The outer section (stroma) of the iris includes several cell types that are not found in the inner or vitread section. In adult Gambusia the lens capsule is well developed, but in two-week-old Sarotherodon larvae the lens epithelium is covered only by a glycocalyx.