COMPARATIVE IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL STUDY OF C1G5F2 ANTIGEN AND MYELIN OLIGODENDROCYTE GLYCOPROTEIN (MOG) EXPRESSION IN BRAIN OF SEVERAL ANIMALSPECIES

The localisation of the myelin/oligodendrocyte specific antigen C1G5F2 and the myelin/oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) was studied in para llel in the brain of various species throughout the phylogenetic line of vertebrates. This immunofluorescence study was performed on unfixed brain sections by using the newly described monoclonal antibody C1G5F 2 and polyclonal anti-MOG antibody. The antigen C1G5F2 is detected fro m the reptilian class onwards whereas MOG is only found in mammals. Bo th antibodies clearly stained only the myelin sheaths in the brain of adult animals. The phylogenetic distribution of the C1G15F2 antigen co mpared to the other well known myelin proteins may indicate that it ha s a specific function during myelination. Moreover, evidence is given that the C1G5F2 antigen is a new minor myelin protein distinct from th e glycoprotein MOG.