Abstract
A method for preparation of antigens of catecholamines and L-3, 4-dihydroxyphenylalanine as haptans was developed. These haptens were conjugated with carrier proteins by the Mannich reaction after N-maleylation of the haptens for protecting the amino groups of the side chain, then the maleyl groups were removed by acid hydrolysis under a mild condition. By immunization of rabbits with these conjugates antibodies were produced. In a cross-reactivity test by Ouchterlony's method the antibodies to each one of the conjugates selectively reacted with the conjugate of that hapten even if the carrier protein was bovine serum albumin or rabbit serum albumin. These results show that the present method for preparation of the conjugates is a desirable one.
