Thyroid-stimulatory effects of human chorionic gonadotrophin in early pregnancy. In vivo and in vitro studies

Hormone Research
R L KennedyM Cohn

Abstract

Human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) shares structural similarity with pituitary thyrotrophin (TSH) and may act as a thyroid stimulator. We have studied serum hCG levels, thyroid function tests and the ability of serum to stimulate cultured thyroid cells in 40 subjects between 6 and 12 weeks of pregnancy. Serum free tri-iodothyronine was increased and serum TSH reduced in pregnancy samples (both p less than 0.05). hCG was detectable in all pregnancy sera with a mean level of 105.6 X 10(3) U/l. Serum from 24 of the 40 (60%) patients stimulated iodide uptake into cultured FRTL-5 thyroid cells. The potency of sera in stimulating cells correlated with the hCG level (r = 0.710, p less than 0.01). The stimulatory activity in some, but not all, sera could be specifically neutralized with antiserum to hCG. Partially purified hCG stimulated iodide uptake and growth of thyroid cells at concentrations of 50 X 10(3) U/l and above. In these experiments, 25 X 10(3) U/l of hCG produced equivalent stimulation to 1 mU/l of TSH. In 8 patients tested before and after termination of pregnancy, the thyroid-cell-stimulatory activity of serum declined rapidly in parallel with serum hCG. hCG may stimulate the thyroid gland at concentrations which preva...Continue Reading

Citations

Apr 1, 1995·Journal of Endocrinological Investigation·Y NagayamaS Nagataki
May 1, 1993·Journal of Endocrinological Investigation·K Mann, R Hoermann

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