Hormones•HPG Axis Tool
🛡️HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin)
LH-receptor agonist glycoprotein hormone. The gold-standard research tool for Leydig cell steroidogenesis, ovarian function, HPG axis regulation and IVF research.
Amino acids
237
Mol. weight
36,700 Da
Half-life
24–36 hours
Availability
In stock
Amino acid sequence
Glycoprotein — α (92 aa) + β (145 aa) subunitsWhat Is HCG?
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) is a 237-amino-acid glycoprotein composed of an alpha subunit (92 aa, shared with LH/FSH/TSH) and a beta subunit (145 aa, unique). It binds the LH receptor (LHR) with equal affinity to endogenous LH. HCG has been used clinically since the 1950s.
Key Mechanisms
- LHR agonism — activates testicular Leydig cell cAMP/PKA/StAR steroidogenic cascade
- Testosterone synthesis — primary pharmacological tool for studying male HPG axis
- Ovulation induction — triggers follicular rupture in ART protocols
- Corpus luteum maintenance — maintains progesterone production in early pregnancy models
Key References
- Bosch E et al. "ESHRE guideline: ovarian stimulation for IVF/ICSI." Hum Reprod Open, 2020;2020(2):hoaa009.
- Raivio T et al. "Reversal of idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism." N Engl J Med, 2007;357:863–873.