title: Why monoclonals?
abstract: Until recently, antibodies used in a variety of immunochemical techniques have been raised in laboratory animals by repeated injections of purified antigen and adjuvant. These antisera are a mixture of antibodies that may recognize unique or common antigenic sites and have different affinities. Such polyclonal antisera can vary considerably from animal to animal or even with different bleeds from one animal. The hybridoma technique of Kohler and Milstein (1975) permits the selection of a monoclonal antibody with a specific affinity that recognizes a specific antigenic determinant. Monoclonal antibodies to a variety of neural antigens have been produced by injection of "impure" antigen. Immunocytochemical findings with these monoclonal antibodies demonstrate some of the advantages and problems of hybridoma technology. Studies with these antibodies in normal and pathological (B,B'-iminodipropionitrile intoxication, Alzheimer's disease) conditions illustrate some of the potential applications of monoclonal antibodies.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000032:analysis*; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D001921:Brain / Q000276:immunology; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000276:immunology*; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000276:immunology; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009474:Neurons / Q000276:immunology; D009928:Organ Specificity
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000941:Antigens