Studies on the delineation of the hormone-specific antigenic determinants of human follicle-stimulating hormone.

Human follicle-stimulating hormone (hFSH) is a key hormone regulating both male and female reproduction. The present study attempts to delineate the hFSH-specific antigenic determinants on its beta-subunit. Predictive methods were used to identify the potential surface-oriented regions of hFSH-beta. Peptides corresponding to these regions, namely, 31-52, 66-75 and 86-95 hFSH-beta, were synthesized and conjugated to diphtheria toxoid. Antipeptide antibodies, elicited in rabbits by immunization with the conjugates, were screened for their ability to bind to hFSH-beta and hFSH. Anti-31-52 hFSH-beta antisera bound to both hFSH-beta and hFSH, whereas anti-66-75 and anti-86-95 hFSH-beta antisera did not show any detectable binding. Furthermore, screening of anti-hFSH antisera showed significant binding only to 31-52 hFSH-beta. These results identify the region 31-52 hFSH-beta as a hormone-specific antigenic determinant of hFSH.