Human chorionic gonadotrophin raises serum immunoreactive inhibin levels in men with hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism

1990 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 137 ◽  
Author(s):  
HG Burger ◽  
SC Tiu ◽  
ML Bangah ◽  
Kretser DM de

Inhibin is a gonadal glycoprotein hormone involved in the regulation of FSH. To elucidate the regulation of inhibin production we investigated the acute (daily for 1 week) and chronic (9-10 months of follow-up) changes in immunoreactive inhibin, testosterone, LH and FSH levels in the serum of three hypogonadotrophic hypogonadal patients treated first with hCG alone (for 3-6 months) and then hCG combined with FSH (1-5 months). One patient was unexpectedly resistant to gonadotrophin therapy; in the other two, hCG, with or without FSH, caused a rise in inhibin and testosterone, supporting previous observations that LH, as well as FSH, plays a role in the regulation of inhibin or inhibin-related peptides in men.

Author(s):  
Norzila Ismail ◽  
Aida Maziha Zainudin ◽  
Gan Siew Hua

Abstract Objectives Level of βhCG and the presence of any uterine mass of hydatidiform mole need a careful review or monitoring in order to prevent metastasis, provide an early treatment and avoid unnecessary chemotherapy. Case presentation A 36-year old fifth gravida patient who had a missed abortion was diagnosed as having a molar pregnancy with beta human chorionic gonadotrophin (βhCG) level of 509,921 IU/L. Her lung field was clear and she underwent suction and curettage (S & C) procedure. However, after six weeks, AA presented to the emergency department with a massive bleeding, although her βhCG level had decreased to 65,770 IU/L. A trans-abdominal ultrasound indicated the presence of an intra-uterine mass (3.0 × 4.4 cm). Nevertheless, her βhCG continued to show a declining trend (8,426 IU/L). AA was advised to undergo a chemotherapy but she refused, citing preference for alternative medicine like herbs instead. She opted for an “at own risk” (AOR) discharge with scheduled follow up. Subsequently, her condition improved with her βhCG showing a downward trend. Surprisingly, at six months post S & C, her βhCG ameliorated to 0 IU/L with no mass detected by ultrasound. Conclusions Brucea javanica fruits, Pereskia bleo and Annona muricata leaves can potentially be useful alternatives to chemotherapy and need further studies.


1988 ◽  
Vol 116 (1) ◽  
pp. 115-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Taya ◽  
S. Sasamoto

ABSTRACT To determine whether failure of follicular maturation during the early stages of lactation in rats is due to inadequate LH stimulation, lactating rats nursing eight pups were injected twice daily for 1–3 days (days 2–5 of lactation) with various doses of ovine LH. Follicular maturation was determined by the ability of the follicles to ovulate in response to 10 IU human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG), endogenous oestradiol-17β and inhibin production. Ovulation was not induced in control animals in response to 10 IU hCG given between days 2 and 5 of lactation. On the other hand, an injection of 10 IU hCG could induce ovulation in LH-treated animals, in which 25 and 50 μg LH per injection were given s.c. from days 2 to 5 of lactation. Concentrations of oestradiol-17β and inhibin activity in ovarian venous plasma increased progressively after the administration of LH, indicating that induced development of ovulatory follicles had occurred. Plasma concentrations of FSH declined in LH-treated animals compared with those in control animals. The decrease in plasma concentrations of FSH was not observed when lactating rats were ovariectomized before the first injection of LH, indicating that ovarian products, probably inhibin, from developing follicles may suppress the secretion of FSH from the pituitary gland. In both LH-treated and control animals, concentrations of prolactin and progesterone remained increased during the period of LH administration. The present results, therefore, suggest that the plasma levels of LH are an important determinant of follicular maturation during lactation in rats. J. Endocr. (1988) 116, 115–122


2008 ◽  
Vol 20 (9) ◽  
pp. 77
Author(s):  
U. A. Ciller ◽  
I. M. Ciller ◽  
J. R. McFarlane

It is well documented that there is considerable batch to batch variation in the activity of commercial preparations of gonadotrophins. These products are used in a variety of assisted reproductive procedures in the livestock industry, consequently this high degree of variation between products and batches adds to the already considerable between animal variations in response to the treatment. Equine chorionic gonadotrophin (eCG) is a heterodimeric glycoprotein hormone secreted by the placental endometrial cups during the first third of gestation in the horse. Plasma is harvested from pregnant mares between 40–90 days of gestation and the eCG isolated and used to formulate commercial preparations. Previous research has shown that eCG like the other gonadotrophins is a highly heterogeneous molecule with significant differences in bioactivity between isoforms. The aim of this study was to determine whether significant differences in isoform composition exist between various commercial preparations of eCG (n = 15), and how this compares with the isoform composition found in plasma (n = 23). Concentrations of eCG were determined using a competitive eCG ELISA. Liquid phase iso-electric focusing was used to fractionate plasma and the commercial preparations into 10 pH ranges from pH 3.0 to pH 10.0. Data from the 10 fractions were grouped into acidic (pH 3.0–5.1), intermediate (pH 5.2–7.9), or basic (pH 8.0–10.0) isoform categories for analysis. Immunoactivity between commercial eCG products ranged from 44% to 362% of stated bioactivity. Iso-electric focusing showed that the majority of the immunoactivity (92%) of the commercial preparations was found in the acidic fractions (pH 3.0–5.1), and in particular in the pH range 3.0–3.8. This contrasted starkly with isoform profiles found in pregnant mare plasma samples which showed a much greater spread across all 3 pH ranges. In summary, the isolation processes of commercial eCG preparations appears to selectively favour the acidic isoforms of eCG.


Author(s):  
K. D. Bagshawe ◽  
Hilary Wilson ◽  
Pauline Dublon ◽  
Anne Smith ◽  
Mary Baldwin ◽  
...  

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