A monoclonal antibody recognizing subpopulations of neurones in mouse brain

A monoclonal antibody, designated C138, was raised against a particulate fraction from young postnatal mouse cerebellum. In sections from adult mouse brain and cerebellum, this antibody stained a sub-population of neurons. Cell bodies of large neurones and fibre tracts were negative in all brain regions examined, whereas neuropil was heavily labelled. Immune-electron microscopy confirmed the specificity of the antibody for certain types of neurones and indicated that the antigen may be associated with microtubular structures. Immunofluorescence studies on dissociated cerebellar cultures showed that the antigen was expressed inside all tetanus toxin-positive neurones but not by non-neuronal cells.