Journal of Neuroscience, Vol 2, 531-535, Copyright © 1982 by Society for Neuroscience
Monoclonal antibodies selective for the inner portion of the chick retina
V Lemmon and DI Gottlieb
Five monoclonal antibodies were selected by immunizing mice with embryonic
chick optic nerve and screening the resultant hybridoma antibodies by
immunofluorescence on sections of the retina. The optic nerve was chosen as
the immunizing tissue since it is presumably enriched in ganglion
cell-specific antigens. These antibodies bind to antigens which are largely
localized to the inner part of the retina. Two of the antibodies, RET1 and
RET2, show highly selective binding to the optic fiber layer. Another,
RET3, stains the optic fiber layer, ganglion cell layer, and inner
plexiform layer. Antibody RET4 stains the optic fiber layer, ganglion cell
layer, inner plexiform layer, and the inner one-half of the inner nuclear
layer; this antibody binds to an antigen on or associated with the plasma
membrane. Antibody RET5 stains the retinal ganglion cell layer faintly and
the inner and outer plexiform layers strongly. The potential utility of
these antibodies for future studies on retinal development is discussed.