Immunocytochemical study of seminal gamma-glutamyltransferase using monoclonal antibodies.

We produced three monoclonal antibodies, SG1, SG2 and SG3, specific for human seminal gamma-glutamyltransferase when characterized by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunoblotting. Seminal gamma-glutamyltransferase was localized, by immunostaining, to the epithelial cells of the ductus epididymidis, seminal vesicle and prostate gland with SG1, those of the prostate gland with SG2, and those of the seminal vesicle with SG3. Rabbit polyclonal anti-seminal gamma-glutamyltransferase serum reacted with the proximal convolution of the kidney and the bile capillaries of the liver, and with the epithelial cells of the reproductive organs. However, immunoreactivity was not observed in the kidney or liver with the monoclonal antibodies. Thus, these monoclonal antibodies are probably all specific to seminal gamma-glutamyltransferase but recognize different epitopes.