Immunohistochemical testing of a new anti-EGF antibody

A new polyclonal anti-EGF antibody, raised in rabbits against a fragment of the human EGF molecule was evaluated for its usefulness in immunohistochemistry. Various combinations of fixation, concentration, temperature, time and staining procedures were tested on rat submandibulary glands. The best results were obtained using 10% buffered or neutral formalin fixation for 24 hours, 1:1000 dilution of primary antibody, incubation time of 60 min with addition of 10% neutral rat serum to the secondary antibody and the ABC staining method. Staining of different human and rat tissues demonstrated strong reactivity in human parotid glands and both human and rat kidney. Moderate reactivity was found in human and rat gastric, duodenal, colonic as well as buccal mucosa.