A new approach to the immunocytochemistry of cAMP. Initial characterization of antibodies against acrolein-fixed cAMP.

A method is described to couple cyclic adenosine 3',5' monophosphate (cAMP) to a carrier protein by means of acrolein. Antibodies against this conjugate were raised in mice. These antibodies proved to be highly specific for acrolein-fixed cAMP in a gelatin model system. Slices (300 microns in thickness) from rat cerebral cortex were incubated in vitro and the dopaminergic control of adenylate cyclase activity was drug-manipulated. This manipulation was visualized by application of the cAMP-antisera on cryostat sections of the acrolein fixed slices.