Histological localization of nervous-system antigens in the cerebellum by immunoperoxidase labeling

The indirect immunoperoxidase method was used to localize histologically on sagittal sections of mouse cerebellum antigenic determinants detected by the following antisera: anti-NS-2, anti-NS-3, anti-NS-4, rabbit anti-bovine corpus callosum, rabbit anti-mouse brain, rabbit anti-glial fibrillary acidic protein, and rabbit anti-neurofilament protein. Anti-α-bungarotoxin serum and normal rabbit serum were used as negative controls. The various sera showed similarities in staining pattern as well as differences. Anti-NS-2 antiserum labeled the somata of interneurons in the molecular layer, granule cell bodies, glial cells in the white matter, and along the surfaces of blood vessels. A similar pattern of staining is produced by the anti-NS-3 antiserum except that glial cells are less prominent in the white matter and the blood vessels are not visible at all. Anti-NS-4 antiserum does not label interneurons but does label glomeruli and, less intensely, granule cell bodies in the granular layer. Rabbit anti-mouse brain antiserum is similar to anti-NS-4 antiserum except that fiber tracts in the white matter are stained more intensely. Rabbit anti-bovine corpus callosum labels only white matter. Antisera to neurofilament and glial fibrillary acidic proteins label Bergmann glia and fibrous astrocytes.