A MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODY IDENTIFIES VIMENTIN FILAMENTS IN SERTOLI CELLS AND IN A SUBSET OF EPITHELIAL-CELLS IN THE RAT EPIDIDYMIS, URINARY-BLADDER AND PROSTATE

Purpose: We describe a monoclonal antibody (Mab B2) against vimentin filaments in rat Sertoli cells and in a subset of epithelial cells in the rat epididymis, prostate and urinary bladder. Materials and Methods: The immunoreactivity of Mab B2 was examined on cryostat sections and immunoblots and compared with the reactivity of a previously characterized monoclonal antibody against vimentin. Results: While both antibodies recognized vimentin in Sertoli cells, only Mab B2 recognized vimentin in urogenital tract epithelia. Conclusions: Vimentin is expressed in the urogenital tract, and differential reactivities of antibodies may be responsible for conflicting results reported elsewhere for vimentin expression.