ANTI-LAMPREY (LAMPETRA-JAPONICA) RETINAL ANTIBODIES WHICH DISTINGUISHBETWEEN SHORT AND LONG PHOTORECEPTOR CELLS

We have developed a pair of new monoclonal antibodies against the reti nal homogenate of Lampetra japonica. Of these antibodies, S70 is speci fic for the short photoreceptor outer segment, and less distinctly so for its cell body; and L31 is specific for the long photoreceptor oute r segment, as assessed by immunohistochemistry. On immunoblot. S70 sho wed no sign of a positive band, whereas L31 revealed a distinct band a t about 40 kDa. S70 showed positive staining of some heterogenous phot oreceptor cells and is probably localized to a molecular component whi ch has been inherited and is shared by the short cell of the lamprey a nd some of the higher vertebrate photoreceptor cells. However, L31 sho wed no cross-reactivity against any heterogenous retinal cells. The mo lecular component recognized by L31 seems to be inherited exclusively by the long cell of the lamprey.