Phenol oxidase activity of the iris and the ciliary body in rats.

Phenol oxidase activity of the iris and the ciliary body in normal young rats of three differently pigmented strains, Lewis (albino), E3 (light brown, hooded), and BDE (black, hooded), was studied using DL-Dopa. Applicability of the histochemical method was controlled with skin samples taken from the necks of the animals. In the pigmented strains, the appearance of newly formed pigment at the pigmented epithelium and stroma of the iris and ciliary body was observed. In the E3 animals, the reaction was slightly positive, while in the BDE rats it was more pronounced. No phenol oxidase activity was detected in the ocular structures of the albinotic rats.