Topography of equine chorionic gonadotropin epitopes relative to the luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone receptor interaction sites.

In order to localize the epitopes of equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) involved in interaction with luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) receptors, we used 14 monoclonal anti-eCG antibodies (mAbs). Different effects of these mAbs on the bioactivities of eCG were observed in in vitro bioassays, but the effects of each mAb on the two bioactivities were similar for all but four mAbs. All mAbs were found to inhibit the binding of eCG to LH receptors except 3A3 mAb, in radioreceptor assay. Six mAbs, which were strong inhibitors of eCG binding to LH receptors and of both bioactivities, recognized the same area on the alpha subunit of eCG. All others, except 3A3, recognized epitopes close to the former, and close to each other. 3A3 mAb had a hyperstimulatory effect on FSH bioactivity, and was the only mAb that did not inhibit binding. It appeared to recognize a different epitopic area. These observations suggest that there is a main antigenic area on eCG, which corresponds to the interaction site of eCG with both receptors. It mostly involves the alpha subunit and to a lesser extent the beta subunit.