The Immunohistologic Identification of Mononuclear Cells and Ia Antigen in Rabbit Spleen and Thymus by Monoclonal Antibodies

Using 5 monoclonal antibodies-2C4.B12 (against rabbit Ia antigen),L11/135 (against rabbit pan-T lymphocyte), L12/27, L12/201,L13/64 (all against T and B lymphocytes subsets) and the ABC (avidin-biotin complex) immunoperoxidase method, the distribution of Ia antigen, T and B lymphocytes in the frozen sections of the rabbit spleen and thymus were studied. The results showed the reaction of these monoclonal antibodies could be clearly observed using this method. The distribution of lymphocyte subpopulation (T and B), and Ia antigen in the rabbit spleen and thymus are nearly the same as that of the human. Future application of this method will continue to study the Ia antigen and mononuclear cell changes in the various condition of rabbit eyes.