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Objective: Basement membranes are specialized extracellular matrices which playimportant roles such as cell regulation, proliferation and migration. Collagen fibers,especially type IV, are the most important basement membrane constituents. As retinais one of the target organs in diabetes mellitus, and nephropathy is a major cause ofend stage renal and retinal diseases resulting in increased morbidity and mortality,early diagnosis leads to better treatment. Hence, in this investigation, the appearanceand distribution of collagen IV during gestational days and early postnatal periodswere observed.Materials and Methods: 24 intact female Balb/c mice were kept under normal conditions.After mating, appearance of a vaginal plug was assumed as day zero of the pregnancy.From days 13-18 of gestation, the pregnant mice were euthanised and theirembryos as well as pups from days 1 to 5 were collected. For histochemichal studies,heads of the specimens were fixed, serially sectioned and immunohistochemicallstudies were performed by using monoclonal antibodies for tracing of collagentype IV.Results: Our findings revealed that the amount of collagen IV in the internal limiting membrane(ILM) and extra cellular matrix (ECM) of the retina, as well as vessels of the vitreusbody appear on embryonic day 16. Also, a patchy distribution was observed in the pigmentedepithelium which continued to further develop until the end stage of embryoniclife. Strong labeling was observed until postnatal day 3 but did not increase significantlythereafter.Conclusion: These findings establish the importance of collagen IV during the critical periodof retinal development. In addition, this study indicates that high levels of collagen IVare present in the basal membrane (BM) of the inner limiting membranes and pigmentedepithelium (3rd post natal on the 3rd postnatal day.