AIM: To study the differences of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) gene expression in lens epithelial cells (LECs) between fetuses and cataract patients. METHODS: In situ hybridization was used to detect bFGF mRNA in the LECs that were cultured and in tissue sections from fetuses and in the LECs from the anterior capsule of cataract patients. Image analysis was used for the relative quantitative analysis of bFGF mRNA. RESULTS: bFGF gene existed in the LECs that were cultured and in tissue sections from fetuses and in the LECs from the anterior capsule of cataract patients. The integral absorbance for the fetal cultured cells, the fetal tissue sections and the capsule membrane cells of cataract patients were 627.1 +/- 268.7, 131.5 +/- 42.8 and 79.2 +/- 26.3 respectively. The integral absorbance of fetal cultured LECs was significantly higher than that of fetal section LECs (P < 0.01). The integral absorbance of cataract LECs was significantly lower than that of fetal LECs (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The in vitro culture of LECs can improve bFGF gene expression. The bFGF gene expression in fetal LECs is significantly higher than that in cataract LECs.