Immunologic methods for the identification of cell types. I. Specific antibodies that distinguish between mammary gland epithelial cells and fibroblasts.

Antibodies were produced against intact mouse mammary epithelial cells and cleared fat pad fibroblasts; after appropriate absorption, two specific antibody preparations were obtained. The antimammary epithelial cell preparation did not appear to be strain- or species-specific. The antimammary fibroblast preparation recognized both mammary and fetal fibroblasts. These findings suggested that each cell type possessed distinct immunogenic components. These components were characteristic of each cell type and could be used to identify the respective cells by an immunofluorescence technique. Characterization of the antigenic component of mouse mammary epithelial cells demonstrated that this antigen was released during enzymatic cell dissociation and was regenerated underin vitro culture.