Ocular Structural Glycoproteins

From the ocular connective tissues, relatively pure structural glycoproteins (SGP) are extractable by means of 8 m urea after trichloroacetic acid treatment. The SGP from corneal stroma (CSGP) and from sclera (SSGP) show considerable immunochemical similarities and are not related to SGP from anterior lens capsule (LSGP). An antiserum directed against the total connective tissue fraction of corneal stroma, sclera or lens capsule shows the same immunofluorescent and immunochemical characteristics as an antiserum against SGP isolated from the corresponding connective tissue. These SGP seem to be the dominant structural antigens of theinvestigated ocular connective tissues In the immunofluorescent test, anti-CSGP and anti-SSGP antisera stain mainly collagenous and reticular connective tissue of the eye. The anti-CSGP, moreover, shows a weak relationship with the basement membrane structures. Besides the vascular and other basement membranes, the anti-LSGP stains reticular tissue as well, however, collagenous tissue does not react with this antiserum. Starting from the immunochemical and immuno­ fluorescence characteristics, one can conclude that the two morphologically distinct con­ nective tissues, lens capsule on the one hand, and scleral stroma on the other, also contain différent types of SGP, respectively LSGP and SSGP or CSGP.