IMMUNOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS ON BOVINE PITUITARY GROWTH HORMONE

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Abstract
The antigenicity of highly purified bovine pituitary growth hormone was studied by means of anaphylactic shock experiments in guinea pigs, precipitin ring tests with rabbit antisera, and bioassay of the antiserum in hypophysecto-mized rats for antihormone activity. Bovine growth hormone in the adjuvant, Bayol-Arlacel, was found to be antigenic in guinea pigs and rabbits. Furthermore, as little as 1 [mu]g of growth hormone could be detected by the precipitin test, using rabbit antiserum which was absorbed free of certain non-specific antibodies. This antiserum did not react with any of the other anterior lobe hormones tested at comparable and considerably higher doses. The absorbed antiserum was found to be capable of inhibiting the stimulation of tibial epiphyseal cartilage and body weight gain effected in hypophysectomized rats by growth hormone.