Nerve growth factor-like immunoreactivities in rodent salivary glands and testis.

A series of polyclonal affinity-purified antibodies against mouse submandibular-gland nerve growth factor (NGF) are described. Using the submandibular gland of the male mouse and indirect immunofluorescence, the specificity and sensitivity of affinity-purified immunoglobulins and various other fractions from the immunized animals have been tested. It will be shown that affinity-purification schemes, including pre-purification of protein A-fractionated immunoglobulins to remove antibodies that bind to unrelated hydrophilic and hydrophobic proteins, significantly enhance the signal-to-noise ratio and specificity of the antibodies. The antibodies effectively detect NGF-like immunoreactivity in both fresh and fixed glandular tissue. Optimal fixation procedures are described. Fluorescence intensities are linearly correlated to log antibody concentration. By use of the best antibody fractions and optimal fixation protocols, the distribution of NGF-like immunoreactivity is described in eight different salivary glands (rat and mouse, male and female, submandibular and sublingual glands). In addition to the well-known large numbers of immunoreactive cells in the submandibular gland of the male mouse, immunoreactive cells were found in the sublingual gland of male mice and in the submandibular and sublingual glands of female mice. One antibody revealed a weak specific fluorescence also in the submandibular gland of the male mouse. In a survey of genital organs of male mice, one antibody revealed fluorescence in the germ cell line. We conclude that several polyclonal affinity-purified antibodies have been characterized that show a strong NGF-dependent binding to the secretory granules of tubular cells in the submandibular gland of male mice. These antibodies should make it possible to locate endogenous and perturbed NGF levels immunocytochemically, e.g., in the peripheral and central nervous system, where NGF concentrations may be several orders of magnitude lower than in the salivary glands.