Transient expression of a 'lens-specific' gene, delta-crystallin, in the embryonic chicken adenohypophysis.

A characteristic protein of the lens, delta-crystallin, has been reported previously to be present in the embryonic chicken adenohypophysis. We confirmed this earlier finding by biochemical detection of delta-crystallin protein using a monoclonal antibody and delta-crystallin mRNA using a specific cDNA probe. We estimate the concentration of delta-crystallin and its mRNA in the 3.5-day embryonic chicken adenohypophysis to be approximately 1/3,000 and 1/5,000 of the respective value found in lens. Tissue culture revealed that cells positive for delta-crystallin comprise about 30% of embryonic adenohypophysis and are randomly scattered in this organ. No lentoid formation was observed during the culture period.