Trans-differentiation of iris pigmented epithelial cells of <i style="">Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis</i> tadpoles into lens <i style="">in vitro</i>

Abstract

Meshed pigmented iris epithelium along with neural retina of tadpoles of the frog <i style="">Euphlyctis</i> <i style="">cyanophlyctis</i> were found to undergo dedifferentiation and subsequently transdifferentiate into lens in culture medium. During lag period, depigmentation (dedifferentiation) occurred in many cells. When culture became confluent 3-4 weeks after seeding tiny lens like structures differentiated from foci of cultured pigmented iris epithelium cells. The percentage of lens formation was higher in vitamin A treated cases. The culture system appears to be a suitable for investigating the changes occurred during trans-differentiation of pigmented epithelial cells into lens.