Effect of TGF-β on the accumulation of cells with muscle proteins in the presence and absence of Myo/Nog cells.

Some explants of anterior lens tissue were treated with the G8 mAb and complement to ablate (Ab) Myo/Nog cells. All explants were wounded (Wd) by scratching the epithelium. Explants were cultured in DMEM/F12 medium alone or medium containing TGF-β2 or −β1 with or without Noggin (Nog). Cells were double labeled with antibodies to α-SMA and MyoD or sarcomeric myosin. Values are the mean ± standard deviation of the number of antibody positive cells ÷ total cells X 100. The number of cultures scored is indicated in parentheses. Neither TGF-β2 nor −β1 stimulated the accumulation of MyoD+ or myosin+ cells following Myo/Nog cell ablation.