Immunolocalization of cytokeratins in some freshly fixed bovine epithelia

Various freshly fixed bovine epithelia were studied with regard to their cytokeratin expression. The epithelia were tested by the ABC immunoperoxidase method with AE1, AE3, anti-keratin B and anti-keratin C monoclonal antibodies. While the hair follicle and nasolabial gland express both small acidic and large basic cytokeratins, the epidermal cells, sebaceous gland and mucosae appear to contain only the latter, and the mammary gland, only the former cytokeratins. Our results on fixed and paraffin embedded material are compared with those reported by others in cell cultures from human and bovine specimens.