Monoclonal antibodies selective for the inner portion of the chick retina.

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.