Ian,

We use anti-alpha smooth muscle actin, clone 1A4, available from several
sources(we use Dako). It works very well on human and murine tissues
however, since it is a mouse monoclonal, one should consider using a
mouse on mouse detection system(we use Dako's ARK kit). You should be
aware that this antibody will also detect myoepithelium and
myofibroblasts! If you desire an antibody which is more restricted to
smooth muscle, then I would recommend anti- smooth muscle myosin heavy
chain. The downside is, that for formalin fixed paraffin sections, the
pretreatment is somewhat drastic!!! However, the results are worthwhile
in our opinion. We have not tried it on murine tissues yet.

Regards

Bryan

>----------
>From: 	Ian Montgomery[SMTP:ian.montgomery@bio.gla.ac.uk]
>Sent: 	March 11, 1999 10:32 AM
>To: 	HistoNet@pathology.swmed.edu
>Subject: 	Smooth muscle.
>
>	Anyone using an good reliable antibody for smooth muscle cells.
>Will be staining human and possibly mouse tissue.
>Ian.
>
>Dr. Ian Montgomery,
>West Medical Building,
>University of Glasgow,
>Glasgow,
>G12 8QQ,
>Scotland.
>Tel: 0141 339 8855 Extn. 6602.
>Fax: 0141 330 4100.
>e-mail: ian.montgomery@bio.gla.ac.uk
>
>
>
>