An immunofluorescent study of cornea development in the chick.

The developmental pattern of appearance of a structural corneal antigenic determinant was studied by immunofluorescent methods. It was first detected in the primary corneal stroma at stage 23, and thereafter spread throughout the primary and secondary stroma. This antigen was absent from Bowman's membrane at its initial stage of development, suggesting that this membrane is a new structure in corneal morphogenesis, and not simply a modification of the primary stroma. This study also suggests that the antigenic determinant is a carbohydrate and is secreted by the corneal epithelial cells.