Common features of antigenic determinants present on mammalian nerve cell membrane structures and in cytoplasmic tetrodotoxin-sensitive proteins

Possible antigenic features common to nerve cell membrane structures and cytoplasmic tetrodotoxin-sensitive proteins were investigated by means of an immobilized immunoenzyme test. It was found that antiserum obtained by immunizing rabbits with a purified preparation of cytoplasmic tetrodotoxin-sensitive proteins can react with antigenic determinants present on the membrane fraction of bovine brain cells, on rat synaptosomes and on cells of a clonal line of mouse neuroblastoma. It was shown by means of an inhibition assay test that antibodies of the same specificity contribute to the observed response. Findings would indicate the presence of antigenic determinants common to nerve cell membrane structures and cytoplasmic tetrodotoxin-sensitive proteins. This is consistent with the hypothesis that cytoplasmic tetrodotoxin-sensitive proteins have certain features in common with membrane sodium channels.