title: Monoclonal antibodies specific for endoplasmic membranes of mammalian cochlear outer hair cells.
abstract: Monoclonal antibodies were raised in vitro against an antigen associated with the lateral cisternal membranes of outer hair cells. Two of the antibodies were class IgM and one of these retained its specific reactivity in tissue fixed with aldehydes and embedded in the resin LR White. Immunogold labelling for electron microscopy showed that the antigen was closely associated with the membranes rather than the cytoplasmic or lumenal regions of the cisternae. The third antibody was an IgG. All three weakly labelled a protein band with an apparent molecular weight of about 60 kD on a Western blot. The antibodies did not cross-react with any other cell in the organ of Corti, including the inner hair cells. Furthermore, they showed no cross-reactivity with skeletal muscle, kidney, gut, brain, skin, blood or retina from the guinea pig. The results suggest that the lateral cisternae in outer hair cells may be functionally different from those of inner hair cells. The antibodies may provide useful markers for outer hair cells in studies of hair cell regeneration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, School of Medical Sciences, University Walk, Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Holley
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Richardson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D015153:Blotting, Western; D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000276:immunology*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D018072:Hair Cells, Auditory, Outer / Q000276:immunology*; D007114:Immunization; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D017830:Octoxynol
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D017830:Octoxynol