Antibodies to galactocerebroside bind to oligodendroglia in suspension culture.

Antisera raised in rabbits against galactocerebroside bind to bovine oligodendroglia in suspension in significant titer as demonstrated by indirect immunofluorescence. Absorption of antigalactocerebroside antiserum with galactocerebroside, oligodendroglia, or myelin markedly reduces the antigalactocerebroside antibody titer as measured by a radioimmunoprecipitation test as well as the binding to oligodendroglia. Incubation with some other galactose-containing glycolipids results in a parallel decrease in binding to oligodendroglia and reduction in antigalactocerebroside antibody titer. Antigalactocerebroside antibodies provide a useful and specific tool with which to study development of oligodendroglia and myelin as well as immunopathologic mechanisms which might be involved in demyelinating diseases.