Serum Inactivation of the Immunological and Biological Activity of Thyrotropin—Releasing Hormone (TRH)

Abstract
The effect of human serum on the immunological and biological activity of thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) has been studied. Inactivation of TRH immunological activity was rapid, occurring at a rate of 6.2%/min when a large quantity of TRH (2 μg/ml) was added to normal serum. Smaller quantities of TRH were more rapidly destroyed and significant TRH loss occurred in serum diluted 1:64. The temperature optimum of the reaction was 37 C. Serum that had been heated at 60 C for 30 min or exposed to pH 3.0 or 10.0 did not inactivate TRH. TRH biological activity was destroyed by incubation of TRH in serum at 37 C whereas it was preserved after incubation of TRH in serum at 60 C. Incubation of TRH—serum mixtures at 60 C after 37 C incubation resulted in recovery of some TRH immunological and biological activity. These results show that serum contains a heat, acid and alkali labile substance (s) which inactivates the biological and immunological activity of TRH in a similar manner. (Endocrinology91: 657, 1972)