IMMUNORADIOMETRIC ASSAY OF PARATHYROID HORMONE

Abstract

SUMMARY An immunoradiometric assay for parathyroid hormone has been developed. Antisera to bovine parathyroid hormone (BPTH) were screened for their ability to bind BPTH and human parathyroid hormone (HPTH). A BPTH-immunoadsorbent was used to extract antibodies from an antiserum which did not discriminate between BPTH and HPTH in a standard radioimmunoassay. These antibodies were labelled with 125 I for use in the immunoradiometric assay. With this system as little as 5 pg BPTH and 8 pg HPTH could be detected. The serum concentration of BPTH was shown to rise in a cow rendered hypocalcaemic by an infusion of EDTA. Sera from patients with hyperparathyroidism contained high concentrations of hormone. These sera were found to dilute-out parallel to calibration curves obtained using HPTH extracted from parathyroid adenomata. The advantages of this method over the standard radioimmunoassay are discussed.