Problems in the development of radioimmunoassay of catecholamines

This review describes experiments to produce antibodies towards the catecholamines and some catecholamine metabolites with the intention of developing radioimmunological methods. First, attempts to produce antibodies to the catecholamines themselves are described. In the course of synthesis of immunogens of catecholamines, it was necessary to exercise special care - e.g. the introduction of protecting groups - owing to the great susceptibility of the catechol structure to oxidation. Despite many efforts, only one working group (Miwa et al.) has reported in a series of papers the successful production of antibodies to catecholamines, but they did not develop a radioimmunoassay. In contrast, antibodies to some metabolites of the catecholamines - such as 3,4-dimethoxyphenylethylamine, the 3-O-methylated catecholamines (normetanephrine, metaneprine, and 3-methoxytyramine) as well as 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylethyleneglycol - have been produced, whose avidity and specificity were high enough to permit the development of sensitive radioimmunoassays.