Human Chorionic Gonadotropin

Calantoc, Cherizh., 1Luzadas, Ramgem., 1Mangalino, Khecylin., 1Payopay, John Paul

Department of Biology, College of Science, University of the Philippines Baguio, Baguio City

Abstract
Secretion of hCG serves as a preventive measure for termination of
pregnancy in females. The role of hCG in female reproductive system was
observed and analyzed to understand the functions of this hormone. A urine
sample from a pregnant woman on her first trimester were injected several times
to a sexually immature female rat. HCG shorten the transitional period by
stimulating the ovulation of large dominant follicles of the experimental
subject. And these large follicles will regress without ovulation and will be
replaced by development of another follicular wave that may or may not
progress to ovulation in the controlled subject.
Keywords: hCG, sex, cytotrophoblast cells, syncytrioblast cells, gonadotropin

Introduction
In the normal menstrual cycle of a female, the endometrium of the uterus sloughs away
from the uterine wall and is expelled to the exterior 14 days after ovulation. However, if an ovum
has been implanted, this should be prevented as the pregnancy will be terminated. Thus, the
secretion of the hormone human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) serves a preventive measure
which is secreted by the newly developing tissues of the ovum. Human chorionic gonadotrophin
is secreted by the syncytial trophoblast cells towards the mothers intracellular fluids. The
secretion of hCG can initially be measured 8 to 9 days after ovulation, immediately after the
blastocyst has been implanted in the uterus, the secretion rate of which abruptly peaks at 10 to 12
weeks after ovulation then decreases by 16 to 20 weeks and continues for the rest of the pregnancy
duration (Guyton, 1998).
hCG is a glycoprotein with a molecular weight of 39,000 and resemble the structure and
function of the luteinizing hormone which is secreted by the pituitary. It functions mainly for the
prevention of normal involution of the corpus luteum at the end of the menstrual cycle and cause
it to secrete larger amounts of sex hormones progesterone and estrogen. These two sex hormones
prevent menstruation and allow the endometrium to grow and store large amounts of nutrients.
The ultimate result of hCG secretion is the thickening of the corpus luteum to about twice its size
by a month or so after pregnancy.
Furthermore, hCG affects the developing organism by the stimulation of testosterone
production in male fetuses and are important in the expression of male characteristics and for the
descent of the testes into the scrotum before parturition (Guyton, 1998). In this experiment, the
action of human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) on the reproductive system of female rats are
observed and analyzed in order to conclude about the role of this hormone in ovulation.

Materials and Methods

Urine sample from a pregnant woman in her first trimester was collected from Baguio
General Hospital Out Patient Department. The sample was then added with the same volume of
diethyl ether in a burette. The urine was extracted in the burette and was placed in a beaker,
covered, and stored in the refrigerator when not in use. A sexually immature female mouse was
then injected with 0.5 mL of the urine sample subcutaneously twice a day for three days. One
mouse was also prepared as the control. The fourth day served as a rest day. On the fifth day, both
mice were sacrificed and dissected. The uterus and ovary of both mice were then observed.

Results and Discussion

The figure below shows the reproductive system of the controlled and experimental
variables. Enlargement of the reproductive organs, especially in the uterus, was observed in the
mice treated with human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG).

Figure 1. Reproductive system of mice;

Untreated with HCG (left), treated with hCG (right);
(1) Horn of uterus, (2) Body of uterus

Cole (2010) stated that the major function of HCG is direct promotion of fusion of
cytotrophoblast cells to syncytrioblast cells. HCG promotes the growth of the uterus; and this was
evident in this experiment. HCG also modifies myometrial smooth muscle tissues, and prepares
decidual and myometrial tissues for reception of trophoblast cells. It promotes the differentiation
of mononuclear cytotrophoblast cells to polynuclear syncytioblast cells which are functional cells
of the maternal-fetal circulation barrier.
The injection of urine to the experimental mice subjects was done twice a day for four days.
According to Jacobs (2010), regular dose of gonadotropin means initiating induction of ovulation
with follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). HCG shorten the transitional period by stimulating the
ovulation of large dominant follicles. In the absence of HCG treatment, many of these large
follicles will regress without ovulation and will be replaced by development of another follicular
wave that may or may not progress to ovulation. (Collins, 2012) This is the reason why the
reproductive parts of the mice under conditioned environment, have sizes that are smaller than the
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reproductive parts of the experimental mice. From the time of implantation, hCG produced by
trophoblast cells take over corpus luteal progesterone production rom luteinizing hormone (LH),
acting on a joint hCG/LH receptor. (Cole, 2012) HCG is similar in chemical structure and function
to luteinizing hormone (LH). An injection of hCG mimics the natural LH surge and causes the
dominant follicle to release its egg and ovulate. (American Society for Reproductive Medicine,
2014)
As for the cellular level, hCG was noted to have correlation with ovarian chromatin
template activity, cAMP, etc. According to McKerns (2012), given the cAMP insensitivity of
nuclear protein kinases, it must be considered paradoxical that HCG, through cAMP or cAMP
analogues, induces specific phosphorylation of nuclear ovarian proteins in vivo through the direct
action of intracellular cAMP on compartmentalized nuclear cAMP-dependent protein kinase. In
an experiment by Jungmann (1978), when a female sexually immature rat was treated with HCG,
incorporation of phosphate into nuclear histone protein was rapidly increased. Administration of
HCG to sexually immature rats modifies the ovarian chromatin template activity in such a way
that RNA synthesis transcribed from ovarian chromatin with saturating levels of RNA polymerase
does indeed occur at an increased rate, through a relative time.
All physiological effects of hormones via cAMP in mammalian cells are mediated
exclusively through activation of cAmp dependent protein kinase (Kuo and Greengard, 1969) and
the known effects of cAMP on the regulation of transcription should occur through the mediation
of cAMP dependent protein kinase acting at the nuclear level. Since phosphorylative modification
is directly involved in gene regulation, there is therefore a correlation between sctivation of nuclear
protein kinase, nuclear chromosomal protein phosphorylation and stimulation of gene activity
(McKerns, 2012).

Conclusions
The reproductive parts of the mice under conditioned environment, have sizes that are
smaller than the reproductive parts of the experimental mice because of the absence of hCG in its
system. The reproductive parts of the mice under conditioned environment, have sizes that are
smaller than the reproductive parts of the experimental mice. Incorporation of phosphate into
nuclear histone protein was rapidly increased with the treatment of hCG.

References
American Society for Reproductive Medicine. (2014). Medications for Inducing Ovulation.
Retrieved July 12, 2016 from http://www.socrei.org/uploade dFiles/ASRM_Content/
Resources/ Patient_Resources/Fact_Sheets_and_Info_Booklets/ ovulation_drugs.pdf
Cole, L. (2010) Human Chorionic Gonatropin (HCG). Canada: Elsevier Inc
Cole, L. (2010). Biological functions of hCG and hCG-related molecules. Reproductive Biology
and Endocrinology 8:102
Collins, R. (2012). Ovulation Induction, Clinical Perspectives in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Germany: Springer Science and Business Media
Filicori, M., Flamigni, C. (1998). Ovulation Induction. Florida: CRC Press
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Guyton, A.C., Hall, J.E., (1998). Textbook of Medical Physiology. W.B. Saunders Company,
Philadelphia, PA.
Jungmann, R., Dunn, M. (1978). Mechanism of Action of Gonadotropins and the Regualtion of
Gene Expression. Biochemical Endocrinology pp 1-29
McKerns, K. (2012). Structure and Function of the Gonadotropins. Germany: Springer Science
and Business Media
Samper, J. (2009). Equine Breeding Management and Artificial Insemination. Canada: Elsevier
Health Sciences Inc
Appendix
Answers to Questions
1. What is the function of hCG?
hCG has numerous functions but its major function is to directly promotefusion of
cytotrophoblast cells to syncytrioblast cells. hCG promotes progesterone production by
corpus luteal cells; promotes angiogenesis in uterine vasculature; promoted the fusion of
cytotrophoblast cell and differentiation to make syncytiotrophoblast cells; causes the
blockage of any immune or macrophage action by mother on foreign invading placental
cells; causes uterine growth parallel to fetal growth; suppresses any myometrial
contractions during the course of pregnancy; causes growth and differentiation of the
umbilical cord; signals the endometrium about forthcoming implantation; acts on receptor
in mother's brain causing hyperemesis gravidarum, and seemingly promotes growth of fetal
organs during pregnancy. (Cole, 2012)
2. How does HCCG induce ovulation in mice?
hCG is similar in chemical structure and function to luteinizing hormone (LH). An
injection of hCG mimics the natural LH surge and causes the dominant follicle to release
its egg and ovulate. (American Society for Reproductive Medicine, 2014)