[Potentials for crystalline lens development in the corneal epithelium of Rana temporaria tadpoles]

Abstract

The lens-forming potencies of the corneal epithelium were studied in the Rana temporaria tadpoles. The corneal epithelium isolated from the tadpoles at the 31st-39th developmental stages was implanted in the vitreous body cavity of lens-less eyes of the tadpoles of the same species. At the 31st-32nd stages the corneal epithelium is in direct contact with the lens which was separated by means of dissociating agents. The corneal epithelium has lens-forming potencies and preserves them till stage 39 when such potencies are rapidly lost. The data obtained allow to suggest the relative autonomy of the loss of lens-forming potencies by the corneal epithelium. The causes of wide distribution of lens-forming potencies in the corneal epithelium of different animal species are discussed.