Quantification of Vitellogenin in Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) Plasma by Radioimmunoassay

Abstract

An antibody prepared against salmon egg yolk proteins has been used to quantify Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) plasma vitellogenin using radioimmunoassay. A low molecular weight fraction isolated from salmon egg yolk was used for radioiodination and as standard solution because plasma vitellogenin could not be iodinated successfully. Parallelism of the egg yolk standard to displacement given by a fraction isolated from vitellogenic salmon plasma and dilutions of plasma samples allowed the assay to be used to evaluate the state of gonadal development of migrating females several months in advance of spawning and for sexing relatively immature salmon. Key words: salmon, plasma vitellogenin; vitellogenin, quantification in salmon plasma; radioimmunoassay, salmon vitellogenin