N. Sivaprasad

An immunoradiometric assay for human follicle stimulating hormone using a monoclonal antibody coupled to magnetisable cellulose

A simple immunoradiometric assay for human follicle stimulating hormone (hFSH) was developed using a pair of monoclonal antibodies obtained from commercial sources. The system developed makes use of a capture antibody covalently coupled to magnetisable cellulose, which is a more economical and stable immunosorbent as compared to the other solid phases. The detector antibody is labeled with125I using the chloramine-T oxidation method and purified by gel filtration. After initial cross-matching of the capture and detector antibodies, various assay parameters have been optimised. This assay does not show any significant cross reactivity with homologous hormones. A number of serum samples from men and women from reproductive age group was screened and compared with another commercially available kit (r=0.98). Sensitivity of the assay is 1.4 mIU/ml, interassay variation is <5% and intraassay variation around 15%. The assay is reproducible and sensitive enough for regular estimation of serum hFSH and is relatively inexpensive.

Immunoradiometric Assay (IRMA) for Human Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and Luteinizing Hormone (LH) Using Common Avidin Solid Phase

Abstract This paper describes the use of avidin-biotin interaction as an affinity system, wherein avidin immobilized magnetizable particles (cellulose) are used as a common separation system in immunoradiometric assay (IRMA) for hormones of the human reproductive system, human follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH). Biotinylated probe was prepared by biotinylation of specific monoclonal antibody for respective antigen using the caproyl derivative of biotin N-hydroxysuccinimide. The detector antibody for the respective antigen was radiolabelled with 125I by a chloramine-T oxidation method and purified by gel filtration. In the IRMA procedure, standard/sample, respective biotinylated, and radiolabelled antibody as a single reagent, and avidin solid phase were added simultaneously to the assay tubes. After incubation for 3 h with shaking, the bound complex was quantitated for its radioactivity associated with the common avidin solid phase. Results showed that the developed assay protocol is applicable to IRMA of FSH and LH with good precision (intra and inter assay CV less than 8% and 11%, respectively), good assay range (0–200 mIU/mL) and analytical recovery (87–110%). The assay could detect 0.5 mIU/mL and 0.9 mIU/mL of FSH and LH, respectively, and showed good correlation with commercially available kits (FSH y = 0.98x + 0.21 and LH y = 0.99x + 0.18).

Development of radioimmunoassay

Therapeutic monitoring of theophylline can be accurately performed by radioimmunoassay (RIA). It is radioactive tracer as an essential reagent for the development of very sensitive RIA. Direct radiolabeling of theophylline with125I is very difficult due to the absence of appropriate functional groups. Hence carboxylic acid of theophylline was tagged to tyrosine methyl ester and then radiolabeled. The derivatives of theophylline, bearing a propionic acid and butyric acid side chains at seventh and eight position of theophylline, were synthesised and coupled to tyrosine methyl ester. Theophylline-tyrosine methyl ester conjugates were labeled with125I using chlora mine—T. Radiolabeled theophylline was purified by solvent extraction followed by thin layer chromatography. The purified radiolabeled compound were assessed for their radiochemical purity, specific activity and immunoreactivity. Stability studies of radiolabeled compounds were performed with different solvents at different temperatures. Theophylline serum samples analysed using developed and commercial kits showed the correlation coefficient of 0.961 (n=9).

Radioimmunoassay of human growth hormone and its application in pituitary dysfunction studies

A simple, specific and sensitive Radioimmunoassay (RIA) has been developed for the measurement of Human Growth Hormone (HGH) in serum samples.125I-labelled HGH has been used as a tracer and dextran coated charcoal system employed to separate antibody bound hormone from the unbound one. The assay offers sensitivity of 0.16 ng/ml with a reproductibility of 7% intrassay and inter-assay variations. Serum HGH levels were measured at fasting-resting state and during insulin stimulation test in (1) 15 normal subjects (controls and (2) 31 patients with stunted growth, whereas (3) in 7 acromegalic patients the same were measured at fasting-resting state and after oral glucose administration. This procedure has been used to distinguish dwarfs due to growth hormone deficiency from other conditions unrelated to pituitary disease and to confirm acromegaly.

Radioimmunoassay of phenytoin

We describe a radioimmunoassay procedure for the measurement of phenytoin (5,5-diphenylhydantoin) in serum samples. Antiserum to phenytoin has been produced against phenytoin-valeric acid-bovine serum albumin conjugate.125I labelled phenytoin-acetic acid-tyrosine methyl ester has been used as a tracer. The assay covers a range of 10–500 ng/cm3 and has a sensitivity of 0.25 ng. The assay is validated by specificity tests, precision profile and recovery tests.

RADIOIMMUNOASSAY OF HUMAN PLACENTAL LACTOGEN

A sensitive and specific radioimmunossay procedure (RIA) has been developed for the measurement of Human Placental Lactogen (HPL). Pure HPL has been labelled with125I and a specific activity of 100 μCi/μgm of HPL has been attained. Dextran-coated charcoal has been employed to separate the bound from the free hormone in radioimmuno-assay. The sensitivity of this technique has been found to be 0.2 ng of HPL. Intraassay and inter assay variations have been found to be less than 10%. This procedure has been adopted to establish the normal range of HPL in pregnant women at different periods of gestation, and to evaluate risk pregnancies.