3 NEW ANTISERA WITH HIGH-SENSITIVITY TO ECDYSONE, 3-DEHYDROECDYSONE AND OTHER A-RING DERIVATIVES - PRODUCTION AND CHARACTERIZATION

Three new antisera have been produced in rabbits immunized with E-2/3- hemisuccinate conjugates. In a competitive enzyme immunoassay (EIA) wi th 20-ecdysone-peroxidase as a tracer, the antisera exhibit high speci ficity towards the side chain of the ecdysone (E) molecule. Modificati ons of the A-ring do result in no or small changes of sensitivity. One antiserum (RUD-2) allows the direct quantification of total ecdystero ids in samples containing E and 3-dehydroecdysone in varying ratios, w ithout further sophisticated sample treatment. At least one of the oth er antisera allows the direct quantification of mixtures of E and 25-d eoxyecdysone (RUD-1). Thus, these antisera may be a useful tool in stu dying molting control in arthropods.