The presence of lens antigens in the intra-ocular tissues of the chick eye

Using polyvalent and monospecific antisera, cross-reacting antigenic determinants between lens crystallins and proteins from other intra-ocular tissues of the chick eye have been detected. The results of two-dimensional crossed electrophoresis and of line-diffusion electrophoresis with lens antigens and lens antiserum showed immunoprecipitin lines equivalent to α-crystallin, δ-crystallin or FISC (first important soluble crystallin) and electrophoretic “Long Line Material” in extracts of cornea, vitreous body, aqueous humor, iris and retina. Immunoelectrophoresis of these proteins with specific antisera against lens α-crystallin and iris α-crystallin, and FISC demonstrated the presence of these crystallins in all intra-ocular tissues studied. Isoelectric focusing experiments in thin layer polyacrylamide gels showed a high degree of identity in isoelectric points of the lens crystallins and the proteins present in intra-ocular tissues. The proteins of the FISC-group of the lens, which appeared to contain seven components, were also present in the intra-ocular tissues studied, though in a smaller number and distributed differently. A protein with serological determinants to a chick serum constituent immunologically similar to albumin, was absent in lens, but present in all other intra-ocular tissues tested, and in extra-ocular tissues like brain, liver, spleen and in hemolyzed blood and in chick serum.