title: Differentiation of presumptive lens ectoderm of the chick in vitro studied with immunofluorescence techniques.
abstract: The differentiation capacity of presumptive lens ectoderm was studied in the chick by an in vitro technique using the appearance of central nervous system or lens-specific antigens as indicators of differentiation. Handling the explants resulted in 'autodifferentiation' of both antigens, but co-culture with alcohol-killed primitive node or optic cup material could induce much stronger differentiation. Little specificity exists in the reaction and a hypothesis is presented whereby selection between the two differentiation pathways is thought to be due mainly to maturation within the ectoderm and the inducing tissue plays a minor qualitative role.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000276:immunology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002642:Chick Embryo; D004475:Ectoderm / Q000166:cytology*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D007106:Immune Sera; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000196:embryology* / Q000276:immunology; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques
chemical_list: D007106:Immune Sera