Preparations Of Chorionic Gonadotropin Research Articles

Interferon-γ aids in protection against equine protozoal myeloencephalitis

Advanced reproductive technologies have been developed to enhance fertility in mares and stallions. Some of these technologies in mares include superovulation, embryo transfer (ET), intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), oocyte transfer (OT), gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT), and cloning. Superovulation can provide multiple oocytes for these techniques. This review will focus on how recombinant equine follicle-stimulating hormone (reFSH) and recombinant equine luteinizing hormone (reLH) are important for superovulation and ET and may be useful for ICSI, OT, GIFT, and cloning. Superovulation would increase pregnancy rates in normal and subfertile mares and enhance reproductive efficiency when using semen from subfertile stallions. Superovulation depends on a timely interaction of gonadotropins and gonadal feedback in the mare. Historically, several hormone protocols have been used to manipulate follicular waves to increase development and ovulations in cycling, anestrous, and transitional mares. Attempts to superovulate cyclic mares or induce the first ovulation of the year in anestrous or transitional mares using preparations of equine chorionic gonadotropin, gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), GnRH agonists, porcine FSH, domperidone, sulpiride, equine pituitary extracts, native equine FSH, human chorionic gonadotropin, progesterone, and immunization against inhibin have produced variable results. The use of recombinant technology has improved the ability to produce a reliable product in substantial quantities that is free of other hormones and possible contaminants. Several studies using reFSH and reLH that demonstrate their efficacy to superovulate the mare and induce the first ovulation of the year will be discussed in this review.

A preliminary investigation into the use of a “high altitude chamber” in racing Thoroughbreds

Advanced reproductive technologies have been developed to enhance fertility in mares and stallions. Some of these technologies in mares include superovulation, embryo transfer (ET), intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), oocyte transfer (OT), gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT), and cloning. Superovulation can provide multiple oocytes for these techniques. This review will focus on how recombinant equine follicle-stimulating hormone (reFSH) and recombinant equine luteinizing hormone (reLH) are important for superovulation and ET and may be useful for ICSI, OT, GIFT, and cloning. Superovulation would increase pregnancy rates in normal and subfertile mares and enhance reproductive efficiency when using semen from subfertile stallions. Superovulation depends on a timely interaction of gonadotropins and gonadal feedback in the mare. Historically, several hormone protocols have been used to manipulate follicular waves to increase development and ovulations in cycling, anestrous, and transitional mares. Attempts to superovulate cyclic mares or induce the first ovulation of the year in anestrous or transitional mares using preparations of equine chorionic gonadotropin, gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), GnRH agonists, porcine FSH, domperidone, sulpiride, equine pituitary extracts, native equine FSH, human chorionic gonadotropin, progesterone, and immunization against inhibin have produced variable results. The use of recombinant technology has improved the ability to produce a reliable product in substantial quantities that is free of other hormones and possible contaminants. Several studies using reFSH and reLH that demonstrate their efficacy to superovulate the mare and induce the first ovulation of the year will be discussed in this review.

A Multicenter, Randomized, Equivalence Trial of a New Recombinant Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Preparation versus Ovitrelle® for Ovulation in Women Undergoing Intrauterine Insemination Following Ovarian Stimulation.

Context:A new indigenous recombinant human chorionic gonadotropin (r-hCG) has been developed in India with a comparable pharmacological profile to that of Ovitrelle® (Merck Serono).Aims:This study aims to compare the efficacy and safety of the new r-hCG with that of Ovitrelle for induction of ovulation in women undergoing intrauterine insemination (IUI).Settings and Design:Randomized (2:1), multicenter, open-label, equivalence clinical trial conducted in India.Subjects and Methods:A total of 217 women, aged 20–37 years, undergoing IUI were administered the new r-hCG (test) 250 mcg or Ovitrelle 250 mcg (comparator) after ovarian stimulation with gonadotropins. The ovulation rate was compared as the primary outcome. In addition, pregnancy rates, incidence of adverse events (AEs), and development of immunogenicity were assessed. Statistical Analysis Used: The ovulation and pregnancy rates were compared using Chi-squared test with statistical significance at P < 0.05.Results:With 144 women in the test group and 73 in the comparator group, the ovulation rate (85.4% vs. 78.1%; P = 0.17) and pregnancy rate (serum β hCG test) (11.8% vs. 12.3%; P = 0.91) were similar in both groups. A total of 15 AEs were reported (11 in the test r-hCG group and 4 in the comparator group) in 11 women; none of these were serious, and all were judged to be unrelated to the study drug. No subject developed immunogenic reaction to the test drug.Conclusions:The new preparation of r-hCG was equivalent to the conventional preparation of r-HCG in the induction of ovulation in patients undergoing IUI.

Comparative effects of sub-stimulating concentrations of non-human versus human Luteinizing Hormones (LH) or chorionic gonadotropins (CG) on adenylate cyclase activation by forskolin in MLTC cells

We have compared various Luteinizing Hormone (LH) and Chorionic Gonadotropin (CG) preparations from non-human and human species in their ability to synergize with 10 µM forskolin (FSK) for cyclic AMP intracellular accumulation, in MLTC cells. LH from rat pituitary as well as various isoforms of pituitary ovine, bovine, porcine, equine and human LHs and equine and human CG were studied. In addition, recombinant human LH and CG were also compared with the natural human and non-human hormones.Sub-stimulating concentrations of all LHs and CGs (2–100 pM) were found to stimulate cyclic AMP accumulation in MLTC cells in the presence of an also non-stimulating FSK concentration (10 µM). Like rat LH, the most homologous available hormone for mouse MLTC cells, all non-human LHs and CG exhibit a strong potentiating effect on FSK response.The human, natural and recombinant hLH and hCG also do so but in addition, they were found to elicit a permissive effect on FSK stimulation. Indeed, when incubated alone with MLTC cells at non-stimulating concentrations (2–70 pM) hLH and hCG permit, after being removed, a dose-dependent cyclic AMP accumulation with 10 µM FSK.Our data show a clearcut difference between human LH and CG compared to their non-human counterparts on MLTC cells adenylate cyclase activity control. This points out the risk of using hCG as a reference ligand for LHR in studies using non-human cells.

Extending the duration of treatment with progesterone and equine chorionic gonadotropin improves fertility in suckled beef cows with low body condition score subjected to timed artificial insemination

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of an extended progesterone treatment on follicular development and fertility in postpartum, suckled beef cows subjected to timed artificial insemination (TAI). In experiment 1, cows (n = 24) with body condition score (BCS) ≥4.5 received either a 2-g progesterone intravaginal device on Day −23 or a 0.558-g progesterone intravaginal device on Day −9. Then, all cows received 2 mg of estradiol benzoate on Day −9; removal of the device, 1-mg estradiol cypionate, and PGF2α on Day −2; and TAI on Day 0. Metabolic status was assessed between Days −9 and −2. Ovarian structures and plasma progesterone were determined weekly from Day −23 to −9, daily from Day −9 to 0, and weekly until Day 28. In experiment 2, cows (n = 302) with BCS ≥4.5 received identical treatment to cows in experiment 1, but on Day −2, cows received 400 IU of two different commercial preparations of equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG). Ovarian structures were determined on Days −23 and −9 on a subset of cows (n = 40). Pregnancy was determined 39 days after TAI. In experiment 3, multiparous cows (n = 244) with BCS <5.0 received identical treatment as cows in experiment 1 initiated on Day −18, and on Day −2, cows received 400 IU of eCG or no treatment. Ovarian structures were determined in a subset of cows (n = 31) on Days −3, −2, −1, 0, 1, and on Day 10. Pregnancy was determined 39 days after TAI. The results indicated that in experiment 1, plasma progesterone was higher in treated than nontreated (control cows) during the first 14 days (P = 0.0001). The extended progesterone treatment increased the size of the largest follicle between Days −23 and Day −5 (Group by Day, P = 0.04) and tended to increase the size of the dominant follicle from Day −5 to Day −1 (Group by Day, P = 0.06). There was no effect of metabolic status or interaction between metabolic status and day on follicular growth. In experiment 2, extended progesterone treatment tended to increase the size of the largest follicle between Day −23 and −9 (P = 0.06). There was no effect of Group, eCG, BCS, and parity on pregnancy per AI. In experiment 3, extended progesterone treatment combined with eCG increased the size of the dominant follicle (P = 0.01). Both extended progesterone treatment (P = 0.02) and eCG (P = 0.03) increased pregnancy per AI. In conclusion, an extended progesterone treatment stimulated follicular growth postpartum and improved fertility only in cows with low BCS.

Physical-chemical and biological characterization of different preparations of equine chorionic gonadotropin.

Ovarian stimulation with commercial preparations of equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) produces extremely variable responses in domestic animals, ranging from excessive stimulation to practically no stimulation, when applied on the basis of their declared unitage. This study was conducted to analyze four commercial preparations from different manufacturers via reversed-phase HPLC (RP-HPLC) in comparison with a reference preparation and an official International Standard from the World Health Organization. The peaks obtained by this qualitative and quantitative physical–chemical analysis were compared using an in vivo bioassay based on the ovarian weight gain of prepubertal female rats. The RP-HPLC data showed one or two peaks close to a main peak (tR = 27.9 min), which were related to the in vivo bioactivity. Commercial preparations that have this altered peak showed very little or no in vivo activity, as demonstrated by rat ovarian weight and in peripubertal gilts induced to ovulate. Overall, these findings indicate that RP-HPLC can be a rapid and reliable tool to reveal changes in the physicochemical profile of commercial eCG that is apparently related to decreased biological activity of this hormone.

Analysis of human luteinizing hormone and human chorionic gonadotropin preparations of different origins by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography

Specific reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography conditions are reported for the analysis of recombinant and native human luteinizing hormone (hLH) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) preparations. Heterodimeric hLH, hCG and their α- and β-subunits migrated with significantly different retention times ( t R) in the following order of increasing hydrophobicity: α-hCG < α-hLH < hCG < hLH < β-hCG < β-hLH. Under these conditions, the main peak of three hCG preparations ran about 4% faster than the average t R (38.35 ± 0.42 min; RSD = 1.1%) of four hLH preparations. Four heterogeneous urinary products were also analyzed, hLH, hFSH and hCG peaks being identified. Quantitative analysis was validated for the homogeneous preparations and a highly linear dose–response curve ( r = 0.99998; p < 0.0001; n = 20) used to assess the accuracy, precision and sensitivity of the analysis. Quantification of the different gonadotropins in the heterogeneous preparations was also carried out, but with limitations in accuracy.

Effect of highly purified human chorionic gonadotropin preparations on the gene expression signature of stromal cells derived from endometriotic lesions: potential mechanisms for the therapeutic effect of human chorionic gonadotropin in vivo

To investigate alterations in the overall gene expression profile of endometriosis-derived stroma with increasing concentrations of hCG by using the Affymetrix GeneChip U133 Set. In vitro study. Academic research institution. Women undergoing diagnostic laparoscopic surgery for endometriosis. Increasing concentrations of hCG, added to fibroblast monocultures from endometriotic lesions. We have found that hCG concentrations of 0.1 U/mL and higher lead to a dose-dependent increase in the expression of 68 genes. Most of the up-regulated genes encoded proteins that are involved in cell adhesion, intercellular communication, extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, apoptosis, and inflammation. We then incubated stromal monocultures from nine patients treated with and without 50 U/mL of hCG and performed reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for selected, highly up-regulated genes to validate our DNA array findings and to confirm that the alterations in the gene expression signature are exemplary of patients with endometriosis. We have shown that hCG induces dose-dependent alterations in the gene expression profile of stromal cells obtained from endometriotic lesions and have, for the first time, identified potential mechanisms by which hCG might exert its therapeutic effect on endometriotic lesions.

Effects of Different Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin Preparations on Trophoblast Differentiation

Recent evidence from the literature suggested that hCG preparations purified from urine of pregnant women, which are widely used in in vitro studies and IVF programs, may contain contaminants such as EGF. To determine the putative biological effects of the contaminating growth factor, we here investigated distinct trophoblast differentiation processes in the presence of various hCG compounds. Western blot analyses indicated that treatment of trophoblastic SGHPL-5 cells and purified term trophoblasts with potentially EGF-contaminated hCG (hCG-A) resulted in auto-phosphorylation of the EGF receptor at tyrosine 1173 whereas supplementation of another urine-purified hCG preparation (hCG-B), recombinant holo-hCG or recombinant αhCG had no effects. Phosphorylation was specifically blocked by the EGF receptor inhibitor PD153035. Urinary hCG-A was most effective in promoting invasion of SGHPL-5 cells through Matrigel-coated transwells, but increased invasiveness was also observed in the presence of hCG-B or recombinant holo-hCG. Similarly, the extent of syncytialisation of term trophoblasts, quantitated by nuclei in desmoplakin-negative areas, was highest upon addition of hCG-A or recombinant EGF as a control. PD153035 reduced invasion and fusion of trophoblasts supplemented with hCG-A, but did not diminish the effects provoked by hCG-B. In conclusion, the data suggest that the EGF contamination of hCG considerably affects trophoblast function. Experiments using EGF-free hCG preparations demonstrate that the hormone increases trophoblast invasion and syncytialisation.

Identification of Placental Transforming Growth Factor-β and Bikunin Metabolites as Contaminants of Pharmaceutical Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin Preparations by Proteomic Techniques

A contaminant protein complex found in pharmaceutical urinary human chorionic gonadotrophin preparations is reported to have anti-human immunodeficiency virus-associated Kaposi's sarcoma activity. The aim of this study was to isolate and characterize this protein complex by proteomic approaches. Size exclusion chromatography was used in the isolation of these human chorionic gonadotrophin-associated fragments. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed the presence of a protein complex that dissociated into two protein bands under reducing conditions. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry of this complex showed three polypeptides at approximately 6.2, 11.4, and 15.8 kDa. Peptide mass mapping and N-terminal amino acid sequencing identified two polypeptides as metabolites of placental transforming growth factor-beta (11.4 kDa) and bikunin (15.8 kDa). Subsequent matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometric analysis of the anti-human immunodeficiency virus-associated Kaposi's sarcoma active preparations CG-10 (Sigma), Pregnyl (Organon), and Profasi (Serono) revealed the presence of metabolites of placental transforming growth factor-beta in all three; no other non-human chorionic gonadotrophin-related protein species were observed in these preparations. Our findings present evidence that urinary human chorionic gonadotrophin preparations are contaminated with metabolites of placental transforming growth factor-beta, which may have transforming growth factor-beta agonist actions, and metabolites of bikunin, which is a protease inhibitor. In combination these molecules may be responsible for the anti-human immunodeficiency virus-associated Kaposi's sarcoma activity demonstrated for these urinary human chorionic gonadotrophin preparations.

Epidermal growth factor contamination and concentrations of intact human chorionic gonadotropin in commercial preparations

It is well-known that many urinary-derived human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) preparations contain a variety of contaminating agents that may influence the efficacy and possible safety of their application. Herein, we report the finding of epidermal growth factor (EGF) contamination and high hCG β core levels in two leading brands of hCG — findings that will promote the use of recombinant hCG instead of the cruder, urinary-derived formulations.

Comparative Use of Urinary and Recombinant Human Chorionic Gonadotropins in Women

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) preparations have been widely used as a surrogate for the mid-cycle luteinizing hormone (LH) surge for several decades. The urinary source of hCG preparations was favored for many years because of the easy collection of the starting material. However, the final structure of these urinary-derived preparations appears to be quite different from the natural placenta product. Furthermore, many disadvantages of these commercial preparations have been reported, such as local adverse events and immunologic reactions. The recent advent of recombinant DNA technology has now made recombinant hCG (r-hCG) available. This new product ensures high purity and batch-to-batch consistency. The pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles of both urinary and recombinant preparations are quite similar. In clinical practice, several trials have been performed to compare both the efficacy and safety of urinary hCG (u-hCG) and r-hCG preparations. Overall, the reported data show that r-hCG preparations are at least as effective as u-hCG products in reproducing the follicular events surrounding the endogenous LH surge. Moreover, the r-hCG products ensure a better hormonal environment during the luteal phase. Finally, the overall tolerability of r-hCG preparations has been shown to be much better than that of u-hCG preparations. As a consequence, the newly available r-hCG preparations offer the first opportunity for clinicians to treat anovulatory women with a full range of recombinant products.

Stimulation of Kaposi's sarcoma cell growth by urine from women in early pregnancy, the current source for clinical-grade human chorionic gonadotropin preparations.

Clinical-grade preparations of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) have been shown to be toxic to Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) cells. However, the results of clinical studies using commercial hCG preparations KS remain highly contradictory. More particularly, some hCG preparations could have a paradoxical growth effect on KS. Such discrepant results may be explained by the fact that the anti-KS activity is not associated with hCG itself but with one or more factors that are co-purified with the hormone. We found here that crude urine from first trimester pregnant women, the current source for commercial hCG, had a growth stimulatory effect on KS cells. By contrast, urine from last trimester pregnant women, from non-pregnant young women, from menopausal women and from men exhibited neither a growth stimulatory nor a growth inhibitory effect on KS cells. The amplitude of this pregnancy urine-associated pro-KS activity/hCG unit was higher than that achieved with clinical-grade hCG preparations. Partial co-purification of pregnancy-associated factors during the extraction procedure of commercial hCG from urine may explain the pro-KS activity achieved with some hCG preparations. We, therefore, suggest a cautious use of hCG purified from pregnancy urine for the treatment of KS.

Inhibitory Effects of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) Preparations on HIV Infection of Human Placenta in vitro

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) has been implicated in modifying Kaposi sarcoma lesions in HIV positive patients and in reducing HIV infection in human lymphocytes and human choriocarcinoma cells. These anti-HIV effects of hCG may contribute to the limited maternal to fetal transmission of HIV infection (25–35 per cent without treatment). However, it is unknown whether such high dosages of hCG have any effect on vertical transmission of HIV or on the infection of the human placenta with cell-free HIV. We have investigated in a dose dependent manner the effects of hCG on HIV-1 infection of human term placentae.Using commercially available hCG preparations, the ability to modify the infection of placental explants in vitro was examined. Sigma hCG and ICN β-hCG (0.1, 1, 10IU/ml) and APL hCG and Sigma and Serono recombinant hCG (0.1, 1, 10, 100IU/ml) were added during 6h of pre-incubation and the 4 days of culture (3 days following the 24h exposure to HIV-1 Ba-L strain). Cell-free HIV infection of the placental explants was documented using DNA-PCR detection of Gag and LTR regions of HIV. Each experimental condition was repeated in different placentae (n=5) and each PCR amplification was performed in duplicate with each primer set (total=20).Our results demonstrate that there is a dose dependent inhibition of HIV-1 infection in the human placenta above the physiologic levels (0.2IU/ml) of hCG produced during incubation. At the highest concentration used (100IU/ml), 80 per cent inhibition of HIV infection was achieved with urinary extract hCG and about 50 per cent with recombinant hCG. β-hCG alone appears to possess an efficacy equivalent to the complete hCG molecule.In this in vitro study, hCG demonstrates specific anti-HIV inhibitory properties that cannot be solely attributed to urinary contamination of the commercial preparations. Such inhibitory action of hCG may be present at varying levels throughout gestation based upon the circulating levels of hCG and its production by the placenta. Knowledge of the specific mechanisms underlying this inhibition is necessary before clinical applications can be considered.

Lysozyme and RNases as anti-HIV components in beta-core preparations of human chorionic gonadotropin.

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) preparations contain activity against HIV type 1 (HIV-1). However, there has been controversy about whether some biological activities of hCG beta-subunit (hCGbeta) preparations are caused by the beta-subunit itself or other proteins present in the preparations. We report here the purification, characterization, and identification of three enzymes with anti-HIV activity present in the beta-core fraction of hCGbeta prepared from the urine of pregnant women. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of one protein is identical to human urinary lysozyme C, and those of the other two are identical to human RNase A and urinary RNase U. We thus refer to these proteins as AVL (antiviral lysozyme) and AVR (antiviral RNases). In addition to HIV-1 inhibition, AVL is capable of lysing Micrococcus lysodeikticus. AVR digests a variety of RNA substrates, including RNA from HIV-1-infected cells. We also find that lysozyme from chicken egg white, human milk, and human neutrophils and RNase A from bovine pancreas possess activity against HIV-1. These findings may offer additional strategies for the treatment of HIV-1 infection.

Eosinophil derived neurotoxin (EDN) levels in commercial human urinary preparations of glycoprotein hormones

Eosinophil derived neurotoxin (EDN) is a ubiquitous human ribonuclease, occurring not only in eosinophils, but also in many tissues and body fluids. It may be a contaminant of commercial human urinary preparations of chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and other glycoprotein hormones. Here we describe the use of a fast commercial assay to quantify this contaminant and demonstrate that the content varies much between different commercial glycoprotein hormone preparations. As this ribonuclease may have a cytotoxic activity on certain cells, it is useful to be able to determine its quantity in a fast and reliable way in these preparations.

Monoclonal antibodies to beta subunit of choriogonadotropin: Development and use in a sandwich ELISA pregnancy test

Balb/c mice were immunized with beta subunit isolated and purified from crude human chorionic gonadotropin preparations. Spleen cells from the higher titered mouse were fused with Sp 2/0 myeloma cells. Four specific secreting hybridomas were obtained. Specificity, affinity, and suitability of secreted antibodies for use in enzyme immunoassays were studied. Ascites of the selected hybridoma was raised; the antibody was purified by protein A-affinity chromatography and coupled to horseradish peroxidase. This conjugate was employed in a simultaneous sandwich enzyme immunoassay on microtiter plates sensitized with goat polyclonal antibody to measure the hormone. The test has a sensitivity of 10 mlU/ml either on urine, serum, or plasma samples when read in a microplate reader. The results can also be evaluated by the naked eye, with a sensitivity of 20 mlU/ml. No cross reactivity was detected with other human gonadotropins.

Differences in properties of the sheep testicular LH and FSH receptors

Differences in binding and structural properties of ovine testicular FSH and LH receptors were investigated. The ovine FSH receptor did not discriminate between FSH of different species, although equine FSH was more reactive. In the same tissue, however, the LH receptor showed marked preference for ovine and bovine LH, reacting very weakly with other preparations of pituitary LH. Human chorionic gonadotrophin also reacted partly with the ovine LH receptor at 25 degrees C. However, at 4 degrees C, the optimum temperature for binding of the LH receptor to its homologous hormone, the receptor displayed no recognition for chorionic gonadotrophin preparations. Affinity cross-linking studies with ovine testicular membrane suggested that the ovine FSH receptor has an Mr of 70,000, which is very similar to that observed in the porcine ovary. The Mr of the ovine LH receptor was estimated to be 150,000, which is different from those of other mammalian species, including those that have been cloned. The data suggest that the binding and structural properties of the ovine FSH receptor are similar to those of other mammalian FSH receptors, whereas the ovine LH receptor appears to differ from other mammalian LH receptors in having a different Mr and in being more stringent in its requirement for pituitary LH.

The effects of human chorionic gonadotropin on growth and steroidogenesis of the human fetal adrenal gland in vitro

This study examined the effects of human chorionic gonadotropin, adrenocorticotropin, human luteinizing hormone, and mouse epidermal growth factor on growth (thymidine incorporation) and steroidogenesis (dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate production) of human fetal zone adrenal cells in monolayer culture. Two preparations of human chorionic gonadotropin extracted from pregnancy urine were used, one highly purified (National Institutes of Health, CR-121) and one less pure (Sigma). Thymidine incorporation was increased twofold to tenfold in cultures exposed to the Sigma human chorionic gonadotropin preparation or to mouse epidermal growth factor as compared to control. Pure National Institutes of Health human chorionic gonadotropin and luteinizing hormone had no effect on growth. When adrenocorticotropin was added alone or in combination with Sigma human chorionic gonadotropin or mouse epidermal growth factor, growth was decreased. Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate production was stimulated by adrenocorticotropin but not by human luteinizing hormone, human chorionic gonadotropin, or mouse epidermal growth factor. These results suggest that human pregnancy urine contains a growth factor which remains to be identified but that pure human chorionic gonadotropin has no mitogenic or steroidogenic effects on the cultured fetal zone cells of the human fetal adrenal gland.

Preparation of anti-human chorionic gonadotropin and anti-luteinizing hormone vaccine using oligopeptides specific to beta-subunit of LH and HCG; contraceptive

Preparation of anti-human chorionic gonadotropin and anti-luteinizing hormone vaccine using oligopeptides specific to beta-subunit of LH and HCG; contraceptive