title: Radioimmunological measurement of beta-endorphin in equine plasma.
abstract: Radioimmunoassay procedures were developed and validated for the quantification of beta-endorphin (beta-EP)-like immunoreactivity in equine plasma. beta-EP could be quantitatively extracted from plasma with silicic acid powder and subsequently assayed, however, valid estimates of this hormone could also be obtained on unextracted plasma. Although beta-lipotropin (beta-LPH) cross-reacted in the assay, it was not necessary to correct for beta-LPH activity when assaying unextracted plasma because chromatographic analyses showed that 92% of the immunoreactivity in plasma extracts was similar in molecular weight to authentic beta-EP (1-31). In addition, electroacupuncture treatment did not alter the relative proportion of immunoreactivity among different molecular weight fractions.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D004723:Endorphins / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006736:Horses / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D011863:Radioimmunoassay / Q000379:methods*; D012824:Silicic Acid; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D008083:beta-Lipotropin / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D004723:Endorphins; D012824:Silicic Acid; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D008083:beta-Lipotropin