Preparation of monoclonal antibodies able to discriminate between testosterone and 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone.
A procedure for production of monoclonal antibodies to testosterone is described. The method involves immunization of rats with a bovine serum albumin conjugate of testosterone 3-(0-carboxymethyl) oxime followed by polyethylene glycol induced hybridization of the immune lymphocytes with mouse myeloma cells. The resulting hybridomas were cloned and the antibodies produced by each clone were characterized. All the antibodies obtained showed high affinity for testosterone, (Ka = 10(10) 1/mol), but clones differed widely in the degree of cross-reaction of the antibodies with other steroids, such as 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone (range 2-100%) and androstenedione (less than 0.1-4%). Large quantities of the selected specific antibodies can be obtained by mass growth of the hybridoma line in culture or as tumors in irradiated or nude mice. Monoclonal antibody preparations may improve standardization of immunoassay methods.
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology*; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D003429:Cross Reactions; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006825:Hybridomas / Q000276:immunology; D007114:Immunization; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D051381:Rats; D013739:Testosterone / Q000276:immunology*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone; D013739:Testosterone