Abstract
Radioimmunoassays for the quantitative and separate determination of lysergic acid
and simple lysergic acid derivatives have been developed. Lysergic acid was coupled
to bovine serum albumin both by the Mannich and the mixed anhydrid reaction and antibodies
against these two different conjugates were raised in rabbits. 3H-lysergic acid was synthesized by basic hydrolysis of 3H-ergotamine. The antibodies produced against the conjugate, prepared by the Mannich
reaction, were very specific for lysergic acid and did not cross react with any of
the other ergot alkaloids tested. The antibodies raised against the conjugate, prepared
by the mixed anhydrid reaction, cross reacted with all simple lysergic acid derivatives
and some clavines. The antibodies exhibited high affinity towards lysergic acid and
its derivatives. K = 0.46
X 109 l/mol (specific antiserum), K = 3.76 × 109 l/mol (polyspecific antiserum). The measuring range was between 1-12 pmol lysergic
acid (use of specific antiserum) and between 0.6-31 pmol ergometrine (use of polyspecific
antiserum). With the specific lysergic acid radioimmunoassay Claviceps purpurea sclerotia and saprophytic C. purpurea cultures were screened for free lysergic acid, while the ergometrine content of a
saprophytic C. purpurea culture was optimized with the polyspecific lysergic acid radioimmunoassay.
Key Word Index
Claviceps purpurea - Radioimmunoassay - Lysergic Acid - Ergometrine - Screening for
Lysergic Acid - Optimization of Alkaloid Content.
