Immunohistochemical characterization of a stage-specific antigen during oogenesis and spermatogenesis recognized with monoclonal antibody.

In order to detect and characterize novel molecules which function in oogenesis, immunohistochemical study using a monoclonal antibody (MAb) raised against oocytes of Xenopus laevis was carried out. The distribution of the detectable molecule with MAb X-80, which specifically reacts with Xenopus previtellogenic oocytes; stages I and II (Dumont, 1972), in particular was analyzed. The hamster, mouse, chick, quail, Caenorhabditis elegans and Lilium longiflorum were also examined. Interestingly MAb X-80 bound not only in Xenopus oocytes but in its secondary spermatocytes and spermatids. Furthermore, MAb X-80 gave a similar staining pattern in the Lilium and other, although the stage when the positive reaction is detectable is different in the male and female germ cells.