Ornithine decarboxylase in developing neonatal rabbit ocular tissue

The specific activity of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) was assessed in rabbit ocular tissue from 2 to 15 days postnatal. ODC levels in cornea were low, but significant at 2 days, and decreased slightly with time. Activity was not detectable in lens tissue. On the other hand, in retina, ODC decreased from fairly high specific activity to nil in the 1st week after birth. Ciliary body paralleled retina but at a lower level. In contrast, ODC specific activity in the vitreous body rose 25-fold between day 5 and 15. These temporal changes are discussed in terms of neonatal ocular development.