Rabbits were immunized with bovine thyroid-stimulating hormone (bTSH), bovine Inteinizing hormone (bLH), and their subunits. In two immunization experiments, thyroid-stimulating activity was found in the serum of 6 out of 12 rabbits immunized with bTSHβ subunits. The thyroid-stimulating activity in the anti-bTSHβ sera was greater at 2 h than at 8, was eluted with the globulin fraction from Sephadex G-100, was completely neutralized by both anti-bTSH and anti-rabbit gamma globulin, and was completely suppressed by administration of triiodothyronine (T3) to the immunized rabbit. These findings led to the conclusion that the thyroid-stimulating activity resided in soluble complexes of rabbit TSH bound to anti-bTSHβ. Two of nine rabbits immunized with bTSH developed thyroid-stimulating activity in their serum, but it was nonsuppressible by T3. None of the animals immunized with bTSHα, bLH, bLHβ, or bLHα developed serum thyroid-stimulating activity.
Gildon N. Beall, Inder J. Chopra, David H. Solomon, John G. Pierce, James S. Cornell
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