SUMMARY A monoclonal antibody to o-human atrial natriuretic polypeptide (a-hANP), KY-ANP-I, hasbeen produced by fusion of a nonproducmg mouse myeloma cell tine, X63-Ag8.653, with spleen ceDs from BALB/c mice immunized with synthetic a-hANP conjugated to bovine thyrogtobuhn using the carbodiimide coupling procedure. Hybrklomas were screened for antibody production by rarJiolmmunoassay using culture media and l2S I-a-hANP. They were cloned by the llmtHng dilution technique, expanded hi culture, and injected mtraperHoneaDy into BALB/c mice. The obtained antibody belonged to the immunogiobunn G, subclass. Analysis by a Scatchard plot revealed a high affinity for a-hANP, with an association constant of 3.1 x 10" M~'. With this monoclonal antibody, a specific radioimmunoassay for a-hANP has been established. The antibody in mouse ascites was available for radioimmunoassay at a final dilution of 1:10*. Values of IC| 0 and IC<, in this radioimmunoassay were 3 and 30 fmol/tube, respectively. The radioimmunoassay showed a cross-reactivity of 0.9% with a-rat ANP. a-hANP-<8-22) and a-ANP-(l-6) exhibited less cross-reactivity than a-rat ANP on a molar basis. There was no cross-reaction with a-ANP-(17-28). Thus, the recognized epitope must be located in the N-terminal half of the ring structure of a-hANP including Met 12 residue. This radioimmunoassay could detect y-hANP and 0-hANP as well as a-hANP. The monoclonal antibody was also useful for unmunohistochemical studies. ANP-positive cells were finely stained hi the human atrium using the avidin-btotin-peroxidase complex technique. These results indicate that this monoclonal antibody to a-hANP will become a powerful tool for investigating the physiological and pathophvsiok>gkal significance of ANP. uretic polypeptides (ANPs), also known as atrial natriuretic factor (ANF), was isolated from human and rat atrial tissues and implicated in the control of water and electrolyte balance and blood pressure. kidney," and lung. 12 This antiserum against a-ANP was also used for immunohistochemical studies.