An Immunoembryological Study of the Chick Iris

Abstract

Using immunological techniques it has been shown that in all major vertebrate species the lens, iris and pigment retina of the eye share common antigens (Langman & Prescott, 1959; Maisel & Langman, 1961; Flickinger & Stone, 1960; Maisel, 1962). These data are of particular interest since in certain animals the iris has the ability to form a lens or lens cells in the absence of the original lens. Indeed, lens regeneration from the dorsal iris is well documented in the genus Triturus (Stone, 1952; Reyer, 1954). Although McKeehan (1961) and Woerdeman (1962) did not record lens regeneration in the chick embryo in vivo, other observers have reported on the formation of lens cells from embryonic chick pigment retina and iris explanted in vitro (Dorris, 1938; van Deth, 1940; Reinhold, 1958).