[Localization of bovine cornea-specific protein in mouse and human eyes]

Rats were immunized by purified bovine cornea-specific protein (CSP) and anti-CSP polyclonal antibody was produced. Localization of CSP in mice and human eyes was examined by immunohistochemical methods with light microscopy using this antibody. In mice CSP was found in the corneal epithelium, keratocytes, corneal endothelium, conjunctival epithelium and lens epithelium. In human eyes CSP was found in the corneal epithelium, keratocytes and conjunctival epithelium, but it was not found in the lens. These results confirmed a difference in localization of CSP between mice and human eyes. It was suggested that the production of CSP might be associated with phylogenesis and that CSP might also be associated with the development of the cornea.