Production of hybridoma cell lines secreting monoclonal antibodies against Progesterone

Abstract

Progesterone is a steroid hormone and is secreted from the corpus luteum and placenta during pregnancy. Serum progesterone concentrations are strongly correlated with the dynamics of the reproductive cycle. In cattle, the progesterone level reaches a peak on the 21st and 22nd day of pregnancy; therefore, progesterone levels in milk and serum are indicators of pregnancy in cattle. Monoclonal antibodies specific to progesterone could be used for the immunodetection of milk and serum progesterone levels. We report here the development of hybrid cells that produce monoclonal antibodies specific to progesterone using hybridoma technology. Hybridoma cells secreting monoclonal antibodies against progesterone were developed by the fusion of spleen cells of an immunized BALB/c mouse. The screening of hybridomas producing monoclonal antibodies specific to progesterone was determinded by ELISA. ELISA test results showed that antibodies produced by 2 hybrids reacted specifically with progesterone.