STUDY OF TISSUE MUCINS USING THE FLUORESCENT ANTIBODY TECHNIQUE: II. THE PREPARATION AND SPECIFICITY OF HUMAN SUBMAXILLARY GLAND MUCIN ANTIBODY

Abstract

Mucin was extracted from human submaxillary glands and purified. Antibodies to the mucin were produced in rabbits and labelled with fluorescein isothiocyanate. The labelled antibody was used to demonstrate mucin in paraffin embedded tissue sections of human submaxillary glands. The antibody solution reacted with the mucin in human submaxillary glands but not with the submaxillary glands of other species. Cross reactions were noted with epithelial mucins in human sublingual glands, lingual glands, submucosal glands of the trachea, gallbladder, pancreatic ducts, Bartholin glands and cervical glands. The organ specificity of the antibody solution was improved by absorbing the antibody solution with sections of Bartholin glands i.e. the cross reactions noted with the Bartholin glands was eliminated but the antibody solutions continued to react with human submaxillary glands. The relation of the antibody to human submaxillary mucins to blood group factors is discussed. Possible ways of obtaining antibodies with a high degree of organ specificity are noted.