[Production and use of monoclonal glucagon and insulin antibodies--reduction of pancreatic insulin in rats by treatment with complete Freund's adjuvant].

Murine monoclonal antibodies against glucagon and insulin were generated by somatic cell hybridization and partially characterized. The monoclonal glucagon antibody K79bB10 exhibited no cross-reaction with gut glucagon. This antibody and the insulin antibody K36aC10 were found of very high concentration in ascites. An ascites dilution of 1:5,000 was used for immunohistochemical staining of insulin and glucagon on Bouin-fixed pancreatic tissue sections. By indirect immunofluorescence technique we could demonstrate a reduction of pancreatic insulin in Lewis rats after treatment with complete Freund's adjuvant. The glucagon staining was not altered. The results were confirmed by radioimmunoassay analysis of pancreatic insulin and glucagon content.