title: Visualization of L-dihydroxyphenylalanine in rat brain by using specific antibodies.
abstract: L-Dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) was conjugated to different protein carriers with glutaraldehyde (G). During the synthesis of the catecholamine conjugates, precautions were taken in order to preserve the structure of L-DOPA. Reduced and non-reduced conjugates were injected to rabbits according to a specific immunization protocol. Anti-L-DOPA antibody affinity and specificity were evaluated by using ELISA tests. The most immunoreactive compounds were the non-reduced conjugate, L-DOPA = G = BSA and the reduced one, L-DOPA-G-BSA. The other conjugated catecholamines were poorly recognized or not at all. These antisera enabled us to specifically visualize the precursor of the catecholaminergic neurotransmitters which are: dopamine, noradrenaline and adrenaline in the G-fixed rat brains.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Neuroimmunologie, IBCN-CNRS, Université de Bordeaux II, France.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mons
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Danel
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Geffard
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D005976:Glutaral; D007158:Immunologic Techniques; D007980:Levodopa / Q000032:analysis*; D051381:Rats; D012709:Serum Albumin; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D012709:Serum Albumin; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine; D007980:Levodopa; D005976:Glutaral