Rat lens cultures: MIP expression and domains of intercellular coupling.

A simple means of establishing a differentiating rat lens culture system is presented which exhibits a high degree of both morphologic and biochemical differentiation along lens-specific lines. Morphological differentiation includes cell enlargement, displacement from the cell substratum, and the loss of intracellular organelles. Biochemical differentiation includes the de novo synthesis of the Main Intrinsic Polypeptide (MIP), a putative fiber cell junctional polypeptide, as well as the synthesis of the beta and gamma crystallins. Mapping of domains of intercellular communication as defined by the spread of intracellularly injected Lucifer Yellow CH and electrical coupling, are compared to the distribution of biochemically and morphologically differentiated cells.