A study of 19-O-carboxymethyl ether and 19-hemisuccinate derivatives of testosterone: their immunogenicity and use as iodinated radioligands for radioimmunoassay of testosterone.

Testosterone 19-O-carboxymethyl ether (T19C) and 19-hemisuccinate (T19H) derivatives were synthesised, and coupled to bovine serum albumin (BSA) or porcine thyroglobulin (PT) for immunogens or to iodohistamine for radioligands. The immunogenicity of these conjugates in mice was compared with those of testosterone 3-O-carboxymethyloxime and 15 beta-thioethyl conjugates. Of 10 immunogens studied, those linked to PT gave the highest antiserum titres and more sensitive standard curves. The site of conjugation (19 or 3 position) had little effect on immunogenicity. Cross-reactivity with 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) was in the range 22-100%, for the 19-linked immunogens. Antisera to T19C and T19H conjugated to PT were then raised in rabbits and characterised with 4 radioligands. Homologous assay systems in which the chemical bridge was identical in immunogen and 125I-radioligand gave the highest antiserum titres but the poorest assay sensitivity while those heterologous with respect to bridge or site gave the most sensitive standard curves. Rabbit antisera to both T19C and T19H immunogens showed good specificities with respect to DHT (range of cross reactions 0.78-21.1%), androstenedione, AN (range 0.45-2.3%) and progesterone, Po (range 0.05-1.4%) with all radioligands. The best assay system employed an antiserum to the T19H-PT immunogen with heterologous radioligand [125I]T19C. It had a detection limit of 15pg/tube and low cross-reactivity with DHT (0.78%), Po (0.3%) and AN (0.43%). We conclude that 19-linked derivatives of testosterone conjugated to PT are good immunogens and the antisera when combined with [125I]testosterone radioligands which are heterologous with respect to the chemical bridge, provide highly specific assays for testosterone with potential for clinical application.