Changes in the antigenic composition of cultured bovine corneas.

Several immunologic tests were used to compare the soluble antigens of cultured and normal bovine corneas. Results of fluorescent-antibody tests on normal corneas confirmed our earlier observation that the epithelium contained little serum protein, and that stroma and epithelium shared an antigen not found in bovine serum. Immunoelectrophoresis, immunodiffusion, and fluorescent-antibody tests preformed on extracts prepared from normal and cultured corneas indicated that corneas absorbed serum proteins during the incubation period. We also noted that very little intact epithelium remained on corneas cultured in the presence of calf serum. The extract prepared from cultured corneas did not contain the strongly antigenic protein present in extracts of normal cornea or epithelium. The implications of these findings are discussed.