The origin of the intrinsic glycoproteins of the rabbit vitreous body: an immunohistochemical and autoradiographic study.

A cartilage matrix glycoprotein (CMGP), previously identified in human and bovine vitreous, now has been found in the vitreous body of rabbits aged 1-22 months by immunohistochemical techniques. Epithelial cells of the inner layer of the ciliary epithelium contain material that has immunologic cross-reactivity with a specific antibody to CMGP. These cells also secrete glycoproteins, as determined by autoradiography after intravitreal injection of [3H]fucose. Approximately 14 bands, representing intrinsic glycoproteins containing fucose residues, can be identified in fluorograms of SDS-polyacrylamide gels of vitreous bodies from 6- and 22-month-old rabbits. Fluorograms of gels of samples of vitreous and ciliary bodies from several time points after intravitreal injection of [3H]fucose reveal at least seven comigrating protein bands and also demonstrate turnover of the labeled ciliary body glycoproteins. These results suggest that the inner layer of the ciliary epithelium is the source of the glycoproteins of the vitreous body and that these glycoproteins undergo turnover, probably throughout the entire life of the animals.