A comparative study of polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies for immunocytochemical localization of cytosolic aspartate aminotransferase in rat liver.

The rabbit antiserum and mouse monoclonal hybridoma antibody against porcine cytosolic aspartate aminotransferase (c-AAT) (or cytosolic glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (c-GOT)) were produced and compared for the localization of c-AAT in rat liver. An indirect immunocytochemical technique was performed using peroxidase-conjugated goat immunoglobulin (Ig) G anti-rabbit IgG and peroxidase-conjugated rabbit IgG anti-mouse IgG as the second antibody. Rats were perfused with paraformaldehyde-lysine-periodate fixative and the liver fragments were immersed in 4% paraformaldehyde and transferred to 10% dimethyl sulfoxide overnight and subjected to cryostat sectioning. The rabbit IgG antibody, 3 individual monoclonal antibodies, and a mixture of these 3 monoclonal antibodies were applied to the tissue sections, respectively, using the same concentration. Under the same experimental conditions, the c-AAT was localized in each individual hepatocyte by both monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies. However, a mixture of three monoclonal antibodies gave stronger staining than a single monoclonal antibody; although two antibodies yield more intense staining than just one, it was still less intense than for three. The conventional rabbit polyclonal antibody against c-AAT produced more reaction product than the combined three monoclonal antibodies. It is concluded that for immunocytochemical study, the use of a single monoclonal antibody is sensitive enough to localize its tissue antigen under the present experimental condition. To obtain a stronger reaction product, a combination of several monoclonal antibodies, at least three or more, may give better staining.