MATRIX-ASSISTED LASER-DESORPTION MASS-SPECTROMETRY FOR THE DETECTION OF RECOMBINANT BOVINE GROWTH-HORMONE IN SUSTAINED-RELEASE FORM

We employed matrix-assisted laser desorption mass spectrometry (LD-MS) to detect recombinant bovine growth hormone (r-bGH) in sustained-rele ase preparations. After preliminary extraction in phosphate buffer, LD -MS provided a precise determination of the molecular mass (M(r)) of t he r-bGH contained in 38 sustained-release preparations. The hormone w as characterised using enzyme immunoassay, immunoblotting and amino ac id sequencing. Rapid detection is essential for analysing large number s of samples, and for monitoring the use of r-bGH in zootechnical prod uctions and its administration as a ''high-tech'' drug for therapeutic purposes.