chorionic gonadotropin

gonadotropin /go·nado·tro·pin/ (-tro´pin) any hormone that stimulates the gonads, especially follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone.

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chorionic gonadotropin , human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) (hCG) a glycopeptide hormone produced by the fetal placenta syncytiotrophoblasts that maintains the function of the corpus luteum during the first few weeks of pregnancy; the basis for most commonly used pregnancy tests. It is used pharmaceutically to treat certain cases of cryptorchidism and male infertility, to induce ovulation and pregnancy in certain infertile, anovulatory women, and to stimulate oocyte development and maturation in patients using assisted reproductive technologies. See also choriogonadotropin alfa.

human menopausal gonadotropin  (hMG) menotropins.

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chorionic gonadotropin

n. Abbr. CG

A glycoprotein that is produced by the placenta and is excreted in the urine of pregnant women, and that acts to stimulate ovarian secretion of the estrogen and progesterone that are required to maintain the conceptus; it is used as an aid for conception and in the treatment of cryptorchidism. Also called anterior pituitary-like hormone, chorionic gonadotropic hormone, human chorionic gonadotropin.

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chorionic gonadotropin (CG)

[kôr′ē·on′ik]

Etymology: Gk, chorion + gone, seed, trophe, nutrition

a chemical component of the urine of pregnant women and pregnant mares. This glycoprotein hormone is secreted by the placental trophoblastic cells. It is composed of two subunits, alpha and beta, and helps maintain the corpus luteum during pregnancy. The alpha subunit is nearly identical to follicle-stimulating, luteinizing, and thyroid-stimulating hormones. The specific hormonal effects of chorionic gonadotropin are activated by the beta portion. They include stimulation of the corpus luteum to secrete estrogen and progesterone and to decrease lymphocyte activation. Chorionic gonadotropin is also administered in the treatment of some cases of cryptorchidism and male hypogonadism and in the induction of ovulation in some infertile women. Also called human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). See also gonadotropin.

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gonadotropin [go´nah-do-tro″pin]

any hormone having a stimulating effect on the gonads. Two such hormones are secreted by the anterior pituitary gland: follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone, both of which are active, but with differing effects, in the two sexes. Called also gonadotropic hormone.

chorionic gonadotropin (human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) (hCG))

1. a glycopeptide hormone that is produced by cells of the fetal placenta and maintains the function of the corpus luteum during the first few weeks of pregnancy. It is thought to promote steroidogenesis in the fetoplacental unit and to stimulate fetal testicular secretion of testosterone. It can be detected by immunoassay in the maternal urine within days after fertilization; this provides the basis for the most commonly used pregnancy test.

2. the same principle obtained from the urine of pregnant women, used in treatment of certain cases of cryptorchidism and male hypogonadism, to induce ovulation and pregnancy in certain infertile, anovulatory women, and to increase the numbers of oocytes for patients attempting conception using assisted reproductive technologies such as gamete intrafallopian transfer or in vitro fertilization; administered intramuscularly. See also choriogonadotropin alfa.

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gonadotropin (gōnad´ōtrōp´in),

n (gonadotropic hormone) a gonad-stimulating hormone derived either from the pituitary gland (e.g., follicle-stimulating hormone FSH] and luteinizing hormone [LH], which is also an interstitial cell-stimulating hormone [ICSH]) or from the chorion (e.g., chorionic gonadotropin, which is found in the urine of pregnant women).

gonadotropin, chorionic,

n See hormone, pregnancy.

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chorionic

pertaining to the chorion.

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chorionic girdle

a circular band of cells of placental origin that invade the endometrium and form the endometrial cups in the mare.

chorionic girdle cells

see chorionic girdle (above).

chorionic gonadotropin

a hormone with properties similar to those of luteinizing hormone; it is secreted in large amounts by the placenta during gestation. It stimulates the formation of interstitial cells in the testes of the fetus and causes the secretion of testosterone. It is found in substantial amounts in the urine of pregnant mares (pregnant mares serum gonadotropin—PMSG) and pregnant women (human chorionic gonadotropin—HCG). It is used as an aid in the treatments to induce ovulation and the synchronization of estrus.

chorionic somatomammotropin

see placental lactogen.

chorionic vesicle

the early embryonic vesicle before the allantois has developed and encircled the embryo to form the chorioallantoic vesicle and supplant it.

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gonadotropin

any hormone having a stimulating effect on the gonads. Two such hormones are secreted by the anterior pituitary: follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone, both of which are active, but with differing effects, in the two sexes.

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chorionic gonadotropin

a gonad-stimulating hormone produced by cytotrophoblastic cells of the placenta; used in treatment of underdevelopment of the gonads and to induce ovulation. See also pregnancy tests.

gonadotropin release inhibiting factor

pituitary hormone which inhibits the release of luteinizing hormone or follicle-stimulating hormone.

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chorionic gonadotropin

Human chorionic gonadotrophin A hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary gland, which supports pregnancy Components α-hGH 14.5 kD; β-hGH 22.2 kD. See FSH, Gonadotropin, LH.

Chorionic gonadotropin levels–post conception

Weeks IU/L

1 wks 5-50

2 wks 40-1000

3 wks 100-4000

4 wks 800-10,000

5-6 wks 5000-100,000

8 wks 20,000-200,000

9-12 wks 10,000-200,000

2^nd trimester 8,000-50,000

3^rd trimester 6,000-50,000