PREPARATION OF ANTISERA TO THREE INDIVIDUAL RAT NEUROPHYSINS AND THEIR USE FOR RADIOIMMUNOASSAYS

Abstract

A number of antisera have been raised against individual rat neurophysins. One of these proved suitable for the specific radioimmunoassay of rat vasopressin–neurophysin and data validating such a use are presented. Use of this antiserum showed that vasopressin–neurophysin is present in rat neurohypophyses in equimolar amounts to vasopressin, while in the hypothalamus the assay detected twice as much neurophysin-like material as hormone. A number of partially specific antisera for rat oxytocin–neurophysin have been obtained and the best of these was raised against the minor neurophysin.