Localization of the rat epidermal SH-protease inhibitor in proventricular and vaginal squamous epithelium. An immunofluorescence study

Abstract

The rat epidermal SH-protease inhibitor was localized with the indirect immunofluorescence method in the rat proventricle and vagina fixed in cold phosphate-buffered formalin. Bright fluorescence was seen in the cytoplasms of the superficial layers of these squamous epithelia only when a highly specific antiinhibitor serum was used. The fluorescence diminished when normal rabbit serum or a rabbit antiserum againts bovine serum albumin was used instead of the anti-inhibitor serum. When the anti-inhibitor serum was neutralized with the purified epidermal inhibitor, the fluorescence was again markedly weakened. The results confirm our previous observations showing that the epidermal SH-protease inhibitor also occurs in other squamous epithelia, especially in the cytoplasms of the cells in their upper layers.