On Nucleic Acids and Polysaccharides during Lens Regeneration in Triturus Pyrrhogaster (BOIE)

Abstract

The material consisted of adult newts kept in water at 24 to 28 degrees C. for 9 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 18, 21 and 35 days after lentectomy. Using FEULGEN reaction, methyl green-pyronin stain, PAS reaction and BAUER reaction the state of DNA, RNA and polysaccharides in the lens in the regenerative process was examined. The following results were obtained.
1. DNA in the early regenerate is present in the area corresponding to the dense nuclear reticulum and exhibits a strong reaction, but in the course of differentiation to fiber cell there is coarsening of the nuclear reticulum with slight reduction of reaction and when the differentiation progresses further it disappears by a course of caryopyknosis and caryolysis. On the other hand, in epithelial cells, the density of the nuclear reticulum increases and the reaction increases slightly with advance in differentiation.
2. RNA appears in the cytoplasm as a network of strandlike, granular particles and the concentraticn is high in the early regenerate. In the differentiative process to fiber cell, there is reduction in concentration accompanying the longation of the cell from the apical region toward the base of cells in the ceurse of differentiation. In epithelial cells, the density is still considerably high, but after the 21st day there is a marked reduction in both epithelium and fiber.
3. Polysaccharides consist primarily of glycogen. In the early regenerate, there is a trace with occasional glycogen granules. In the differentiative process, a conspicuous increase it seen is glycogen over a wide area in adjacent cells, but it is decreased in elonated fiber cells. Also, in the differentiative process to secondary fiber, cells in the early stage of differentiation generally show a temporary increase but thereafter there is a gradual decrease in the fiber cells. In epithelial cells, there is a gradual increase in the later half and a considerable deposit is seen in the terminal stage.
4. From the above findings, it is felt that in the lens regenerative process synthesis of nucleic acids occurs in which glycogen is the energy source and that the nucleic acid is related to the synthesis of protein.