A rat yolk‐sac antigen defined by monoclonal antibodies

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Abstract
The distribution of a rat yolk‐sac antigen (Rat YSA‐1) as defined by a monoclonal antibody raised against rat yolksac carcinoma cells is described. The antigen is present on rat yolk‐sac carcinomas, on visceral yolk‐sac endoderm and on embryonal endoderm of 9‐day‐old embryos. It is not present on a variety of rat tumors other than yolk‐sac carcinomas and not detectable on pre‐implantation embryos, inner cell mass and fetal endoderm. Rat YSA‐1 differs from alpha‐fetoprotein and Forssman antigen and is species‐specific. In adult rats the only cells displaying this antigen are the spermatozoa and certain cells of the spermatogenic lineage.