Abstract
We established a novel in vitro system to induce eye at high frequency using Xenopus early gastrulae. The eye formed in vitro is morphologically similar to the normal eye. Immunostaining showed that the eye induced in vitro had mature optic tissues. The cell lineage tracing revealed that eyes formed in vitro were derived from the animal cap cells. For functional analysis, we tried transplantation of eye induced in vitro. When eye induced in vitro was transplanted into stage 33 eyeless tadpole, the grafted eye rooted to the host tadpole and optic nerve was regenerated. Dil stanining of the optic nerve showed that regenerated optic nerve reached the tectum of the host brain. The grafted eye was retained after metamorphosis. The resultant juvenile frogs could perceive brightness using the grafted eye and control their skin color, suggesting that the eye formed in vitro could function normally.
