Searching across hundreds of databases
The activity of excitatory neurons is controlled by a highly diverse population of inhibitory interneurons. These cells show a high level of physiological, morphological and neurochemical heterogeneity, and play highly specific roles in neuronal circuits. In the mammalian hippocampus, these are divided into 21 different subtypes of GABAergic interneurons based on their expression of different markers, morphology and their electrophysiological properties. Ideally, all can be marked using an antibody directed against the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA, but parvalbumin, calbindin, somatostatin, and calretinin are also commonly used as markers to narrow down the specific interneuron subtype. Here, we describe a journey to find the necessary immunological reagents for studying GABAergic interneurons of the mouse hippocampus. Based on web searches there are several hundreds of different antibodies on the market directed against these four markers. Searches in the literature databases allowed us to narrow it down to a subset of antibodies most commonly used in publications. However, in our hands the most cited ones did not work for immunofluorescence stainings of formaldehyde fixed tissue sections and cultured hippocampal neurons, and we had to immunostain our way through thirteen different commercial antibodies before finally finding a suitable antibody for each of the four markers. The antibodies were evaluated based on signal-to-noise ratios as well as if positive cells were found in layers of the hippocampus where they have previously been described. Additionally, the antibodies were also tested on sections from mouse spinal cord with similar criteria for specificity of the antibodies. Using the antibodies with a high rating on pAbmAbs, an antibody review database, stainings with high signal-to-noise ratios and location of the immunostained cells in accordance with the literature could be obtained, making these antibodies suitable choices for studying the GABAergic system.
Pubmed ID: 25469233 RIS Download
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Company offering a broad range of instrument systems and diagnostic tests for hospitals, reference labs, blood banks, physician offices and clinics to aid in the diagnosis of a range of serious health issues such as infectious diseases, cancer, and diabetes, as well as monitor other important indicators of health.
View all literature mentionsAn Antibody supplier; Dako was purchased by Agilent in 2012 and several years later the websites began to reflect the Dako products as part of the Agilent catalog.
View all literature mentionsThis monoclonal targets Parvalbumin
View all literature mentionsThis polyclonal targets Somatostatin N-Terminal antibody produced in rabbit
View all literature mentionsThis monoclonal targets Somatostatin
View all literature mentionsThis polyclonal targets Parvalbumin
View all literature mentionsThis polyclonal targets Parvalbumin
View all literature mentionsThis polyclonal targets Parvalbumin
View all literature mentionsThis monoclonal targets Calretinin (CR)
View all literature mentionsThis monoclonal targets Calretinin
View all literature mentionsThis unknown targets Calretinin Antibody
View all literature mentionsThis polyclonal targets Calretinin
View all literature mentionsThis monoclonal targets Calbindin-D-28K antibody produced in mouse
View all literature mentionsThis polyclonal targets Calbindin D-28K
View all literature mentionsUser interface software for Carl Zeiss light microscopy imaging systems. ZEN is the universal user interface you will see on every imaging system from ZEISS. After selecting fluorophore, ZEN applies the necessary settings to collect and organize data.
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