Characterization of novel anti-mouse thyrotropin monoclonal antibodies.

Mouse hybridoma cell lines have been raised to a peptide of the mouse thyrotropin-beta (thyroid stimulating hormone [TSH]beta) subunit of the TSH glycoprotein hormone molecule. Using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) capture technique with two anti-TSHbeta monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), these reagents were found to have strong reactivity in a titration-dependent manner against normal mouse serum, and to precipitate under reducing conditions a 13-kDa product, the correct molecular size of the TSHbeta component, from mouse sera. These MAbs had minimal reactivity in ELISA to bovine and rat TSH and slight reactivity to human TSH, demonstrating overall strong species specificity for mouse TSH. Due to the large number of inbred and genetically manipulated mice now available for experimental research, it is anticipated that these reagents will be of considerable value for in-depth studies into TSH-related physiological processes in ways that have not been feasible here-to-fore.