CYTOTOXICITY OF ANTI-TISSUE ANTIBODIES .2. EFFECTS OF ANTI-LENS SERA IN TISSUE CULTURE

Duck anti-adult rabbit lens sera demonstrated striking cytotoxicity against rabbit lens epithelium in tissue culture, whereas nonimmunized duck serum was without effect. Duck antisera to rabbit sclera or cornea showed only minimal damaging effects on rabbit lens epithelium. Homologous antisera prepared in the rabbit against pooled rabbit lenses did not reveal cytotoxic effects on rabbit lens epithelium. Rabbit antisera against human, bovine, frog and marine fish (menhaden) similarly failed to damage rabbit lens epithelial cells, although all of the antisera contained numerous precipitating organ-specific antibodies active against rabbit soluble lens components. The data indicate that the antigens involved in organ specificity of the lens were not concerned in the cytotoxic reactions.