Staining of the midbody by an anti-digoxin-specific antibody

Using RNA in situ hybridization to reveal cytoplasmic localization patterns of mRNAs in cultured cells, we noted unexpected staining of a cytoplasmic component in telophase cells. Control experiments revealed that the anti-digoxin-specific antibody was responsible for this staining. Because the staining was observed only at a position where both daughter cells are still connected, we identified the stained component as the midbody. This was confirmed by double staining of cells with anti-digoxin and anti-alpha-tubulin antibodies. We concluded that anti-digoxin-specific antibody shows crossreactivity with a component present in the midbody.