title: An enzyme immunoassay for 6-sulphatoxy-melatonin in human urine.
abstract: We describe a newly developed enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for the determination of 6-sulphatoxy-melatonin (aMT6s) in human urine, using a aMT6s-bovine serum albumin-horseradish peroxidase (aMt6s-BSA-HRP) conjugate as the enzyme label. The assay incorporates a highly specific antibody raised in rabbits. The EIA has a sensitivity of 2 pg/well (40 pg/ml) with intraassay coefficients of variation of 2.3-6.1% in the range of the assay. The material with the highest level of cross-reactivity was N-acetyl serotonin sulphate, with a relative potency of 0.000078%. One hundred thirty-four urine samples from children and adults at different time points were assayed and the results compared with those from an established radioimmunoassay (RIA) and with a newly developed RIA using the same antibody as the EIA. The correlation coefficient, r, comparing the two RIA's was 0.9869, and the regression equation was log (kit) = 0.9340 log (new) + 0.1213. The correlation coefficient, r, comparing the EIA with the newly developed RIA, was 0.9686, and regression equation log (new) = 0.9674 log (EIA) + 0.0600. The EIA for the measurement of aMT6s in urine represents a new approach in the investigation of pineal function.
authors.affiliation: Joint Academic Unit of Obstetrics, Gynaecology, and Reproductive Physiology, St. Bartholomew's Hospital, London, England.
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Peniston-Bird
authors.forename: W L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Di
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Street
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Little
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Silman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003429:Cross Reactions; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008550:Melatonin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000652:urine; D008875:Middle Aged; D011863:Radioimmunoassay / Q000379:methods; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: C054513:6-sulfatoxymelatonin; D008550:Melatonin