Immunochemical analysis of neuropeptides.

Measurement of neuropeptides requires assays that take into account the basic characteristics of bioactive peptides, i.e. the structural homology ("families"); the molecular heterogeneity of a given neuropeptide system; the widespread synthesis in different neurons and cells; and cellspecific processing of the primary translationproduct. Development of libraries of sensitive radioimmunoassays (RIAs), each of which is monospecific for essential sequences of propeptides, comply with some of the needs. Processing-site specific RIAs have proven particularly useful in combination with chromatography and enzymography.