Related Experiment Videos
Effect of human chorionic gonadotropin on human thyroid tissue in vitro
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
|March 1, 1978
Summary
Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) can stimulate thyroid cells by binding to the TSH receptor. This finding helps explain hyperthyroidism in trophoblastic diseases.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Reproductive Biology
- Thyroidology
Background:
- Hyperthyroidism can be caused by substances other than Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH).
- The specific thyroid stimulator in trophoblastic disease-associated thyrotoxicosis remains unclear, though human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is implicated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the thyroid-stimulating properties of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG).
- To determine if hCG can interact with the TSH receptor and activate thyroid cells.
Main Methods:
- Assessing hCG's ability to displace radiolabeled TSH from human thyroid membranes.
- Measuring cyclic-AMP (c-AMP) generation in human thyroid slices stimulated by hCG.
Main Results:
- Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) demonstrated displacement of labeled TSH from thyroid membranes at 40 IU/ml.
- hCG induced cyclic-AMP (c-AMP) generation in thyroid slices at 69 IU/ml.
Conclusions:
- hCG can bind to the TSH receptor on human thyroid cells.
- hCG stimulates thyroid cells to produce c-AMP at concentrations relevant to trophoblastic disease.