Preparation of a specific antiserum against elastin of the human aorta

Elastin was isolated from the human aorta by three different extraction methods. Immunization was carried out in sheep. The presence of antibody against each elastin preparation in the sheep sera was confirmed by immunofluorescence. However, antiserum against elastin isolated by collagenase/guanidine dithioerythritol showed the most specific reactions in the cryostat sections. No cross-reactivity to type I, III and IV collagen, fibronectin, laminin and proteoglycan BM 1 was observed.