Production of polyclonal antibodies against perivascular macrophages (Mato's FGP cells) isolated from rat brain microvessels

Perivascular macrophages (Mato's perivascular cells) are located along microvessels in the Virchow-Robin space in mammals. We have isolated and cultured perivascular macrophages from microvessels in the cerebrum of Wistar strain male rats. The cultured cells were identified as perivascular macrophages in vivo. Polyclonal antibodies were produced by immunizing rabbits with cultured perivascular rat macrophages as antigens. The antibodies were evaluated by the immuno-fluorescence technique. These polyclonal antibodies reacted with perivascular macrophages, but not with perivascular smooth muscle cells or pericytes. The antibodies are, therefore, expected to be of use in studies on the immunological significance of perivascular macrophages, both in vivo and in vitro.