Immunological reactivity of monoclonal antibodies prepared against large ganglion cells from bovine retina.

This report describes the preparation of a highly specific reagent (monoclonal antibody) that reacts selectively with large ganglion cells of bovine retina. Other cells populations of bovine retina react weakly or not at all, but neurons in brain regions of ox other than retina also bind the immunoglobulins specifically. Species specificity was indicated by a weak reaction with cat and dog retinal neurons, and organ specificity was shown by lack of reaction with bovine liver. This highly specific reagent can be used to classify the subsets of large retinal ganglion cells on the basis of their antigenic properties and to identify neurons in different brains regions that share antigenic determinants.