Characterization of antioligodendrocyte serum.

An antioligodendrocyte serum (AOS) has been raised in rabbits against preparations of isolated bovine oligodendrocytes. The antibody was assayed by two techniques. By complement fixation with isolated oligodendrocytes, the titer of the antibody was 1:64 to 1:128. By indirect immunofluorescence testing of oligodendrocyte suspensions and frozen brain sections, the titer of the AOS was 1:256 to 1:512. When unabsorbed AOS was used, immunofluorescent staining proved it specific for bovine oligodendrocytes in suspension and in sections, and for human oligodendrocytes in sections. In cell suspensions, the staining was membrane related and in sections, cytoplasmic. The oligodendrocyte staining could be totally removed by absorption of AOS against oligodendrocyte suspensions, whereas absorption against bovine myelin, bovine myelin basic protein, and bovine neurons did not affect the staining reaction. AOS also stsined Schwann cells, a property possible related to antigens shared with oligodendrocytes. It is concluded that AOS is specific for oligodendrocytes and can now be applied to fundamental and disease-rel