DISTRIBUTION OF ALPHA-B-CRYSTALLIN IN THE ANTERIOR SEGMENT OF PRIMATEAND BOVINE EYES

The presence and distribution of alphaB-crystallin in the anterior seg ment of human, monkey and bovine eyes was investigated immunocytochemi cally. In all three species the most intense staining was seen in the lens and in the nonpigmented and pigmented epithelial cells covering t he tips of die pars plicata of the ciliary body. The staining intensit y of die ciliary epithelial cells was comparable to that seen in the l ens fibers. Strong labeling was also found in the corneal endothelium. In bovine eyes the presence of alphaB-crytallin in lens, ciliary epid ielium of the pars plicata and corneal endothelium was also shown by b iochemical analysis using SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting.