[The appearance and distribution of the NF-200 neurofilament protein in transdifferentiating cells of the pigment epithelium and in other eye cells during retinal regeneration in tritons].

The presence of the neuronal intermediate filament protein NF-200 in trans-differentiating cells of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and in cells of undifferentiated neural retina (NR) rudiment during eye regeneration in the newt was determined using immunohistochemical methods. It was shown that the appearance and accumulation of NF-200 take place soon after NR removal, are topologically associated with the areas of RPE and iris conversion, and depend on cell dedifferentiation rate. NF-200 distribution in intact and regenerated NR coincides with that described earlier in birds and mammals. Mechanisms controlling transdifferentiation of RPE cells into NR cells are discussed.