Preparation and characterization of antisera and monoclonal antibodies to serotonergic and dopaminergic ligands

In an attempt to produce polyclonal antisera and monoclonal antibodies to serotonin, SKF 38393 (D-1 agonist), dopamine, and haloperidol (D-2 antagonist) several procedures for the preparation of immunogenic ligand-protein carrier conjugates were investigated. The Mannich reaction utilizing formaldehyde as the chemical linker was used to prepare serotonin-protein conjugates; antibodies raised to this conjugate reacted specifically to the conjugated serotonin moiety but did not react to native serotonin. Chemical conjugations involving dimethylpimelylimidate or N-carboxymethyl derivatives for the coupling of serotonin, dopamine and SKF 38393 to carrier proteins produced antibodies primarily directed against the ‘chemical coupling arm’ and very little antibody activity against the ligand itself could be detected. Synthesis of a haloperidol derivative suitable for chemical coupling to a protein carrier via oxobutyric acid produced an immunogen which was capable of eliciting both polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies specific for the hapten. The pitfalls of the various chemical conjugation procedures and the difficulties of producing antibodies to free ligands are discussed.