| Abstract: | Dissociated cells of the lens epithelium of newly hatched chickens were cultured in vitro to investigate whether cells actively grown in culture retain their own differentive entiative traits to form lens fibers. After an exponential growth phase of the flattened epithelial cells, a number of “islets” of smaller epithelial cells with polygonal shape appeared. Along the periphery of these islets, the characteristic morphological change which leads to the formation of spherical bodies was observed. Electron microscopic observation showed the differentiation of lens fibers in these spherical bodies comparable to those in the lens in situ. Accumulation of δ-chrystallin was confirmed in such “lentoid” bodies. Outgrowth of the lens epithelial cells was maintained in in vitro culture up to about 50 days with several subculturings. The formation of lentoid bodies occurred in each subculture generation, which started from a homogeneous population of flattened epithelial cells. The present culture conditions permit the maintenance of such a population of cells that have a high growth potential and stably retains their differentiative trait to form lens fiber, even after repeated replication under in vitro conditions. |
