Production and characterization of a novel monoclonal antibody against neurotensin: immunohistochemical localization in the midbrain and hypothalamus

We developed a mouse monoclonal antibody against neurotensin (NT), termed NT8, for applications in immunohistochemistry and for ELISA analysis of NT. The antibody's paratope was determined by competitive ELISA using several peptide fragments of NT. That paratope requires intact peptide bonds between NT residues proline-7, arginine-8, and arginine-9. The antibody is of the IgG2B sub-isotype, having an IC50 for intact NT of approximately 3 nM when measured by competitive ELISA. Light microscopic immunohistochemical studies in the periaqueductal gray (PAG) and hypothalamus demonstrated staining patterns that agreed well with previous reports. Neuron perikarya were visualized even in the absence of colchicine pre-treatment, indicating that NT8 antibody is very sensitive in immunohistochemical applications. At the EM level, the antibody stained axon terminals, dendrites, and perikarya in the PAG. In lightly immunoreactive perikarya, rough endoplasmic reticula were visualized, suggesting that biosynthetic precursors to NT might be recognized by NT8.