THE DEVELOPMENT OF A RADIOIMMUNOASSAY FOR OXYTOCIN: RADIO-IODINATION, ANTIBODY PRODUCTION AND SEPARATION TECHNIQUES

Abstract

SUMMARY A simple and rapid method is described for labelling oxytocin with 131I at a high specific activity. This method is compared with those of previous workers. A satisfactory antiserum has been raised by direct intra-lymph node injection of oxytocin adsorbed to carbon microparticles. A number of methods for separating antibody-bound from free oxytocin are described, and reasons given for preferring a procedure using ammonium sulphate precipitation. These data form the basis for developing a radioimmunoassay intended for the determination of oxytocin in human plasma.