Abstract
This chapter discusses fertility control by immunization against human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG). hCG is a glycoprotein hormone that is synthesized and secreted by the syncytiotrophoblast cells of the placenta from early pregnancy until term. The precise role of hCG during pregnancy is unknown. Strong circumstantial evidence suggests that the main function that hCG serves is to provide a hormonal stimulus from the conceptus to the corpus luteum. This leads to increased secretion of progesterone by the corpus luteum and prevents the luteal regression that occurs normally in an infertile menstrual cycle. The chapter also discusses fertility control by immunization against hCG. As hCG is normally produced only following conception, disruption of its production or function offers an attractive approach to fertility regulation, because if the hCG reaching the maternal circulation can be neutralized by circulating antibodies, hCG support of the corpus luteum will be prevented, resulting in the termination of pregnancy as a result of progesterone deficiency. Furthermore, if hCG forms an integral part of the trophoblast cell membrane, an antibody to hCG could also have a direct cytotoxic effect on the embryo before implantation.
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