Localization of bovine brain filament antibody on intermediate (100 A) filaments in guinea pig vascular endothelial cells and chick cardiac muscle cells.

Abstract

Guinea pig vascular endothelial cells contain naturally occurring rings of intermediate filaments that completely encircle the nucleus. Indirect immunofluorescence staining showed that these perinuclear rings bound antibody prepared against protein from bovine brain 9-nm filaments. In endothelial cells grown in the presence of 1 .mu.M demecolcine (Colcemid) the perinuclear ring coils into a juxtanuclear cap. Throughout this process, staining of the intermediate filaments was demonstrated. Chick cardiac muscle cells in culture stained diffusely with the antibody. After treatment for 24 h with 1 .mu.M demecolcine, the cardiac cells accumulated large bands of intermediate filaments. These bands stained intensely with the antibody. Intermediate filaments in guinea pig endothelial cells and those induced in chick cardiac muscle cells are apparently antigenically similar to bovine brain filaments. The staining of these filaments is not affected by treatment with demecolcine.