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Published on: May 18, 2014
Isolation and characterization of human pituitary chorionic gonadotropin
S Birken1, Y Maydelman, M A Gawinowicz
1Department of Medicine and the Protein Chemistry Core Facility, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, 10032, USA.
Endocrinology
|April 1, 1996
Summary
Researchers purified and characterized human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) from pituitary glands. This pituitary hCG is biologically active and shares similarities with placental hCG, challenging previous assumptions about its origin.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Reproductive Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is crucial for maintaining pregnancy by supporting corpus luteum function.
- While placental hCG is well-established, hCG-like substances have been detected in pituitary tissue, blood, and urine of nonpregnant individuals for years without isolation.
- The pituitary gland is known to secrete related glycoprotein hormones like LH, hFSH, and hTSH, but not typically hCG.
Purpose of the Study:
- To isolate and characterize hCG from human pituitary glands.
- To compare the biochemical and biological properties of pituitary hCG with placental hCG.
- To investigate the potential origin and function of hCG within the pituitary.
Main Methods:
- Purification of hCG from acetone-preserved human pituitary glands using gel permeation and immunoaffinity chromatography.
- Characterization using amino acid analysis, amino-terminal sequence analysis, and mass spectrometry.
- Analysis of sulfate and sialic acid content and in vitro cAMP assays to determine biological activity.
Main Results:
- Successfully purified and characterized hCG from human pituitary tissue.
- Pituitary hCG exhibited structural similarities to hCG purified from pregnant women's urine.
- Pituitary hCG contained sulfate and sialic acid and demonstrated 50% of the biological activity of placental hCG in cAMP assays.
Conclusions:
- Human pituitary glands contain and can secrete hCG.
- Pituitary hCG is biochemically similar to placental hCG and possesses significant biological activity.
- These findings suggest a potential role for pituitary hCG beyond pregnancy maintenance and challenge its exclusive association with the placenta in primates.
