Generation and biological properties of a monoclonal antibody to galactocerebroside.

Galactocerebroside ( GalC ) is a major glycolipid of myelin and myelin-forming cells. We have generated a mouse IgM monoclonal antibody to GalC (M-anti- GalC ) which bound only to oligodendrocytes in rat and bovine central nervous system cultures as assessed by immunofluorescence. Double staining with rabbit anti-glial fibrillary acidic protein and anti-fibronectin antisera revealed no binding of M-anti- GalC to astrocytes or fibroblasts. Schwann cells, but not fibroblasts, were stained in short-term cultures of rat Schwann cells. M-anti- GalC exhibited in vitro cytotoxicity to rat and bovine oligodendrocytes in the presence of complement. This monoclonal antibody with its monospecificity, consistent titer, and capacity to induce cell lysis should be useful for in vitro and in vivo investigations concerning myelination and demyelination.