THE RAT-BRAIN DELTA-OPIOID RECEPTOR STUDIED WITH ANTIIDIOTYPIC ANTIBODIES TO ANTI-LEUCINE ENKEPHALIN

Anti-idiotypic antibodies to anti-leucine enkephalin in rabbits immuun ized with leucine enkephalin conjugated to BSA, were purified and char acterized for their ability to mimic leucine enkephalin in binding to the rat brain delta opioid receptor. An ELISA was standardized to assa y the delta opioid receptor using these antibodies. The rat brain rece ptor was purified to 308 fold with a yield of 1.5% using these antibod ies for assay. The receptor, probed with these anti-idiotypic antibodi es, was characterized with respect to binding parameters, molecular we ight and effect of divalent cations.