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Biomedical subjects

W M Hunter

Publications and source records attributed to W M Hunter.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

A solid-phase radioimmunoassay for plasma progesterone.

A detailed procedure is presented for the assay of plasma progesterone. The routine assay is based on the use of antiserum which is covalently linked to microcrystalline cellulose, the double-antibody method being used as a reference separation system. This procedure gives high precision accompanied by small and acceptable losses of antiserum titre but without loss of sensitivity when compared with the double-antibody method. Ethanol is first added to the plasma (10vol. of plasma+1vol. of ethanol) after which a single extraction with light petroleum yields a constant recovery [92.4+/-1.2 (s.d.)% of added [(3)H]progesterone] and obviates the need for tracer recoveries on each sample being assayed. Distortions of the response curve owing to solvent residues have been almost eliminated. The assay can measure progesterone at all stages of the menstrual cycle when volumes of 200mul of plasma are used and this permits the detection of the periovulatory rise at its inception. Detailed specificity studies are presented for the assay end point itself and these are related to the responses to be expected in extracts of plasma. Progesterone-like activity was found in urine and a fourfold increase in excretion rates was observed between the follicular and luteal phase of the normal menstrual cycle.

Animals↗

Two anti-anxiety drugs: a psychoneuroendocrine study.

Eight males were studied during 27 weeks, including two periods of five weeks during which they received clinical doses of sodium amylobarbitone and benzoctamine. Substitution of placebo for either drug caused raised anxiety and impairment of mental concentration. The drugs reduced restlessness during sleep and reduced paradoxical sleep. By the fifth week of sodium amylobarbitone, although sleep was still less restless in the early night it was more restless than normal in the late night.Blood samples were taken half-hourly during sleep by indwelling venous catheter. Plasma growth hormone concentration was little affected during drug administration but rose temporarily after withdrawal. There was a reduction of plasma corticosteroid concentration during sleep throughout administration of the drugs and a rebound above normal during the first withdrawal week.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗

The labelling of proteins to high specific radioactivities by conjugation to a 125I-containing acylating agent.

1. A new method is described for labelling proteins to high specific radioactivities with (125)I. The protein is treated with a (125)I-labelled acylating agent, iodinated 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propionic acid N-hydroxysuccinimide ester, which reacts with free amino groups in the protein molecule to attach the (125)I-labelled groups by amide bonds. 2. Three protein hormones have been labelled by this method, human growth hormone, human thyroid-stimulating hormone and human luteinizing hormone. Specific radioactivities of up to 170, 120 and 55muCi/mug respectively have been obtained for these hormones. 3. The immunoreactivity of these labelled hormones has been investigated by using a radioimmunoassay system specific for each hormone. These preparations have also been compared with and found to be equal or superior to labelled hormones prepared by chemical substitution of (125)I into tyrosine residues of the proteins by using the chloramine-t-oxidation procedure. 4. With some antisera the immunoreactivity of the antigen was diminished by the introduction of a single I atom into the tyrosyl groups, whereas antigen containing a single (125)I-labelled 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propionamide group showed the same immunoreactivity as the unmodified antigen.

Acylation↗