Comparison of antibodies for cetacean central nervous system (cns) tissues

Abstract

Immunohistochemistry using policlonal and monoclonal antibodies has been widely used for histological and pathological studies in different animal species. Due to the scarce number of available specific antibodies in marine mammal, cross reacting antibodies may be a good approach to carry out similar studies in different organs of cetacean species.CNS sections from a total of twelve cetacean stranded in Canary Islands coasts were chosen from archived formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded samples tissues. The samples were taken from different parts of the brain and spinal cord. To assess a reliable inmunostaining for those tissues, different protocols were used for twelve primary antibodies: Vim (vimentin), Syn (synaptophysin), GFAP (Glial Fibrillary Acid Protein), HSP-70 (70kD-Heat Shock Protein), NSE(Neuron-Specific enolase), Beta-AP (Beta Amyloid Protein), MH (Myeloid/Histiocyte), S100 (S100 protein), FVIII (Factor VIII/ Von Willebrand), C-Jun (Jun protein) and C-Fos (Fos protein).Peroxidase technique with aminoethylcarbazol or with diaminobenzidine as chromogens were used. All cases were also processed and stained routenately with hematoxilyn and eosin.Each slide were assessed under light microscopic exam in order to obtain the most objective data as possible; they were evaluated in terms of sensitivity, specific and no specific background staining. An specific inmunoreaction was obtained with GFAP, HSP-70, NSE, MH, S100, FVIII, C-Jun and C-Fos antibodies in cetacean SNC tissues. These antibodies are being investigated for their usefulness at the detection in Central Nervous System tissue of different