Human chorionic gonadotrophin and sport.
PDF (1.7M)
Journal: 1992/January - British Journal of Sports Medicine
ISSN: 0306-3674
PUBMED: 1751893
Abstract:
Human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) is a glycoprotein hormone which is produced in large amounts during pregnancy and also by certain types of tumour. The biological action of hCG is identical to that of luteinizing hormone, although the former has a much longer plasma half-life. Some male athletes use pharmaceutical preparations of hCG to stimulate testosterone production before competition and/or to prevent testicular shutdown and atrophy during and after prolonged courses of androgen administration. Testosterone administration can be detected by measuring the ratio of concentrations of testosterone to epitestosterone (T/E). An athlete is often considered to have failed a drug test if the urinary T/E ratio is greater than 6. In contrast, hCG administration stimulates the endogenous production of both testosterone and epitestosterone without increasing the urinary T/E ratio above normal values. Although the administration of hCG was banned by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1987, no definitive test for hCG has been approved by the IOC. Currently, the only way of measuring small concentrations of hCG is by immunoassay, and this does not have a discriminating power as great as gas-liquid chromatography with mass-spectrometry which is necessary to satisfy IOC requirements. Extraction procedures and chromatographic steps could be introduced before using a selected immunoassay for hCG to meet these requirements.
Open in
PUBMED | PMC | Google Scholar | Wikipedia
Relations:
Content
Citations
(1)
References
(38)
Drugs
(1)
Chemicals
(2)
Organisms
(1)
Processes
(2)
Affiliates
(1)
Similar articles
Articles by the same authors
Discussion board
Br J Sports Med 25(2): 73-80
PMID: 1751893

Human chorionic gonadotrophin and sport.

Abstract

Human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) is a glycoprotein hormone which is produced in large amounts during pregnancy and also by certain types of tumour. The biological action of hCG is identical to that of luteinizing hormone, although the former has a much longer plasma half-life. Some male athletes use pharmaceutical preparations of hCG to stimulate testosterone production before competition and/or to prevent testicular shutdown and atrophy during and after prolonged courses of androgen administration. Testosterone administration can be detected by measuring the ratio of concentrations of testosterone to epitestosterone (T/E). An athlete is often considered to have failed a drug test if the urinary T/E ratio is greater than 6. In contrast, hCG administration stimulates the endogenous production of both testosterone and epitestosterone without increasing the urinary T/E ratio above normal values. Although the administration of hCG was banned by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1987, no definitive test for hCG has been approved by the IOC. Currently, the only way of measuring small concentrations of hCG is by immunoassay, and this does not have a discriminating power as great as gas-liquid chromatography with mass-spectrometry which is necessary to satisfy IOC requirements. Extraction procedures and chromatographic steps could be introduced before using a selected immunoassay for hCG to meet these requirements.

Full text

Full text is available as a scanned copy of the original print version. Get a printable copy (PDF file) of the complete article (1.7M), or click on a page image below to browse page by page. Links to PubMed are also available for Selected References.
icon of scanned page 73
73
icon of scanned page 74
74
icon of scanned page 75
75
icon of scanned page 76
76
icon of scanned page 77
77
icon of scanned page 78
78
icon of scanned page 79
79
icon of scanned page 80
80

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
  • Stenman UH, Alfthan H, Ranta T, Vartiainen E, Jalkanen J, Seppälä M. Serum levels of human chorionic gonadotropin in nonpregnant women and men are modulated by gonadotropin-releasing hormone and sex steroids. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1987 Apr;64(4):730–736. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • Braunstein GD, Kamdar V, Rasor J, Swaminathan N, Wade ME. Widespread distribution of a chorionic gonadotropin-like substance in normal human tissues. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1979 Dec;49(6):917–925. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • Chen HC, Hodgen GD, Matsuura S, Lin LJ, Gross E, Reichert LE, Jr, Birken S, Canfield RE, Ross GT. Evidence for a gonadotropin from nonpregnant subjects that has physical, immunological, and biological similarities to human chorionic gonadotropin. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1976 Aug;73(8):2885–2889.[PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • Robertson DM, Suginami H, Montes HH, Puri CP, Choi SK, Diczfalusy E. Studies on a human chorionic gonadotrophin-like material present in non-pregnant subjects. Acta Endocrinol (Copenh) 1978 Nov;89(3):492–505. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • Pierce JG, Parsons TF. Glycoprotein hormones: structure and function. Annu Rev Biochem. 1981;50:465–495. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • Kessler MJ, Reddy MS, Shah RH, Bahl OP. Structures of N-glycosidic carbohydrate units of human chorionic gonadotropin. J Biol Chem. 1979 Aug 25;254(16):7901–7908. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • Kessler MJ, Mise T, Ghai RD, Bahl OP. Structure and location of the O-glycosidic carbohydrate units of human chorionic gonadotropin. J Biol Chem. 1979 Aug 25;254(16):7909–7914. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • BANGHAM DR, GRAB B. THE SECOND INTERNATIONAL STANDARD FOR CHORIONIC GONADOTROPHIN. Bull World Health Organ. 1964;31:111–125.[PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • Canfield RE, Ross GT. A new reference preparation of human chorionic gonadotrophin and its subunits. Bull World Health Organ. 1976;54(4):463–472.[PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • Storring PL, Gaines-Das RE, Bangham DR. International Reference Preparation of Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin for Immunoassay: potency estimates in various bioassay and protein binding assay systems; and International Reference Preparations of the alpha and beta subunits of human chorionic gonadotrophin for immunoassay. J Endocrinol. 1980 Feb;84(2):295–310. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • Dighe RR, Moudgal NR. Use of alpha- and beta-subunit specific antibodies in studying interaction of hCG with Leydig cell receptors. Arch Biochem Biophys. 1983 Sep;225(2):490–499. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • Milius RP, Midgley AR, Jr, Birken S. Preferential masking by the receptor of immunoreactive sites on the alpha subunit of human choriogonadotropin. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1983 Dec;80(24):7375–7379.[PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • Habberfield AD, Dix CJ, Cooke BA. Evidence for the rapid internalization and recycling of lutropin receptors in rat testis Leydig cells. Biochem J. 1986 Jan 15;233(2):369–376.[PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • Saez JM, Forest MG. Kinetics of human chorionic gonadotropin-induced steroidogenic response of the human testis. I. Plasma testosterone: implications for human chorionic gonadotropin stimulation test. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1979 Aug;49(2):278–283. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • Forest MG, Lecoq A, Saez JM. Kinetics of human chorionic gonadotropin-induced steroidogenic response of the human testis. II. Plasma 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone, delta4-androstenedione, estrone, and 17 beta-estradiol: evidence for the action of human chorionic gonadotropin on intermediate enzymes implicated in steroid biosynthesis. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1979 Aug;49(2):284–291. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • Miller WL. Molecular biology of steroid hormone synthesis. Endocr Rev. 1988 Aug;9(3):295–318. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • Martikainen H, Alén M, Rahkila P, Vihko R. Testicular responsiveness to human chorionic gonadotrophin during transient hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism induced by androgenic/anabolic steroids in power athletes. J Steroid Biochem. 1986 Jul;25(1):109–112. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • Matsumoto AM, Paulsen CA, Hopper BR, Rebar RW, Bremner WJ. Human chorionic gonadotropin and testicular function: stimulation of testosterone, testosterone precursors, and sperm production despite high estradiol levels. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1983 Apr;56(4):720–728. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • Taliadouros GS, Amr S, Louvet JP, Birken S, Canfield RE, Nisula BC. Biological and immunological characterization of crude commercial human choriogonadotropin. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1982 May;54(5):1002–1009. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • Wide L, Johannisson E, Tillinger KG, Diczfalusy E. Metabolic clearance of human chorionic gonadotrophin administered to non pregnant women. Acta Endocrinol (Copenh) 1968 Dec;59(4):579–594. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • Kato Y, Braunstein GD. Beta-core fragment is a major form of immunoreactive urinary chorionic gonadotropin in human pregnancy. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1988 Jun;66(6):1197–1201. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • Yen SS, Llerena O, Little B, Pearson OH. Disappearance rates of endogenous luteinizing hormone and chorionic gonadotropin in man. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1968 Dec;28(12):1763–1767. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • Rizkallah T, Gurpide E, Vande Wiele RL. Metabolism of HCG in man. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1969 Jan;29(1):92–100. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • Vaitukaitis J, Robbins JB, Nieschlag E, Ross GT. A method for producing specific antisera with small doses of immunogen. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1971 Dec;33(6):988–991. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • Stuart MC, Underwood PA, Harman DF, Payne KL, Rathjen DA, Razziudin S, Von Sturmer SR, Vines K. The production of monoclonal antibodies to human chorionic gonadotrophin and its subunits. J Endocrinol. 1983 Sep;98(3):323–330. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • Schwarz S, Berger P, Wick G. Epitope-selective, monoclonal-antibody-based immunoradiometric assays of predictable specificity for differential measurement of choriogonadotropin and its subunits. Clin Chem. 1985 Aug;31(8):1322–1328. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • Saller B, Clara R, Spöttl G, Siddle K, Mann K. Testicular cancer secretes intact human choriogonadotropin (hCG) and its free beta-subunit: evidence that hCG (+hCG-beta) assays are the most reliable in diagnosis and follow-up. Clin Chem. 1990 Feb;36(2):234–239. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • Bangham DR. Standardization in peptide hormone immunoassays: principle and practice. Clin Chem. 1976 Jul;22(7):957–963. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • Jeffcoate SL. What are we measuring in gonadotropin assays? Acta Endocrinol Suppl (Copenh) 1988;288:28–30. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • Stockell Hartree A, Lester JB, Shownkeen RC. Studies of the heterogeneity of human pituitary LH by fast protein liquid chromatography. J Endocrinol. 1985 Jun;105(3):405–413. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • Strickland TW, Pierce JG. The alpha subunit of pituitary glycoprotein hormones. Formation of three-dimensional structure during cell-free biosynthesis. J Biol Chem. 1983 May 10;258(9):5927–5932. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • Thompson RJ, Jackson AP, Langlois N. Circulating antibodies to mouse monoclonal immunoglobulins in normal subjects--incidence, species specificity, and effects on a two-site assay for creatine kinase-MB isoenzyme. Clin Chem. 1986 Mar;32(3):476–481. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • Bock JL, Furgiuele J, Wenz B. False positive immunometric assays caused by anti-immunoglobulin antibodies: a case report. Clin Chim Acta. 1985 Apr 30;147(3):241–246. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • Check JH, Nowroozi K, Chase JS, Lauer C, Elkins B, Wu CH. False-positive human chorionic gonadotropin levels caused by a heterophile antibody with the immunoradiometric assay. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1988 Jan;158(1):99–100. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • Letterie GS, Rose S, Miyazawa K. Heterophile antibodies and false-positive assays for human chorionic gonadotropin. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1988 Dec;159(6):1598–1599. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • Wilson JD. Androgen abuse by athletes. Endocr Rev. 1988 May;9(2):181–199. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • Brooks RV, Jeremiah G, Webb WA, Wheeler M. Detection of anabolic steroid administration to athletes. J Steroid Biochem. 1979 Jul;11(1C):913–917. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • Kicman AT, Brooks RV, Collyer SC, Cowan DA, Nanjee MN, Southan GJ, Wheeler MJ. Criteria to indicate testosterone administration. Br J Sports Med. 1990 Dec;24(4):253–264.[PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
Drug Control Centre, King's College, London, UK.
Drug Control Centre, King's College, London, UK.
Copyright notice
Abstract
Human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) is a glycoprotein hormone which is produced in large amounts during pregnancy and also by certain types of tumour. The biological action of hCG is identical to that of luteinizing hormone, although the former has a much longer plasma half-life. Some male athletes use pharmaceutical preparations of hCG to stimulate testosterone production before competition and/or to prevent testicular shutdown and atrophy during and after prolonged courses of androgen administration. Testosterone administration can be detected by measuring the ratio of concentrations of testosterone to epitestosterone (T/E). An athlete is often considered to have failed a drug test if the urinary T/E ratio is greater than 6. In contrast, hCG administration stimulates the endogenous production of both testosterone and epitestosterone without increasing the urinary T/E ratio above normal values. Although the administration of hCG was banned by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1987, no definitive test for hCG has been approved by the IOC. Currently, the only way of measuring small concentrations of hCG is by immunoassay, and this does not have a discriminating power as great as gas-liquid chromatography with mass-spectrometry which is necessary to satisfy IOC requirements. Extraction procedures and chromatographic steps could be introduced before using a selected immunoassay for hCG to meet these requirements.
Collaboration tool especially designed for Life Science professionals.Drag-and-drop any entity to your messages.