Monoclonal antibodies to gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) inhibit binding of the hormone to its receptor

Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) specific to gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) were obtained using different strategies of conjugation of the peptide to carrier protein and immunization. Of several antibodies obtained, two, namely F1D3C5 and E2D2 bound GnRH in solution phase. Though the epitopes corresponding to the two overlapped, there was a one amino acid shift in the core epitope. These two antibodies were characterized with respect to inhibition of GnRH induced responses in rat pituitary cultures and α-T3.1 mouse gonadotrope cell line.