Lens Antigens in Ocular Tissues

Abstract

Introduction Antigens identical immunologically to those of the lens have been demonstrated in the cornea, iris, and pigment retina of the chick eye (Langman and Prescott¹; Maisel and Langman²). Furthermore, these tissues have the ability to form a lens upon removal of the original lens during embryonic life as well as in the newborn chick (Van Deth³). It has therefore been suggested that lens antigens present in these tissues may provide the biochemical substrate for lens regeneration.^1,2Further support for this hypothesis would be provided if it could be shown that the structure of these extralenticular proteins also resembles that of the lens proteins with respect to electrophoretic and molecular weight properties. The immunological techniques which have hitherto been used for the detection of such common antigens give information only regarding their determinate groups. The present investigation was therefore undertaken in order to compare the electrophoretic