Merck, C8554-50IU, Chorionic gonadotropin human

General description
Glycoprotein hormone consisting of a 92-amino acid α-chain which is identical to that of LH, FSH, and TSH; and a distinct 149-amino acid β-chain. Produced by chorionic tissue and responsible for maintaining the corpus luteum during early pregnancy. Also produced by trophoblast cell neoplasms, which are marked by elevated free hCG β-chains and hyperglycosylated hCG.
Note: Actual molecular weight will vary from the theoretical depending upon the degree of glycosylation. Theoretical MW is 37.9 kDa based on native form which contains 2 subunits: α = 14.9 kDa (~10.2 kDa for the polypeptide and ~4.7 kDa for the carbohydrate), and β = 23.0 kDa (~16.0 kDa for the polypeptide and ~7.0 kDa for the carbohydrate). See J. Biol. Chem. 248, 6796-6827 (1973).
Application
Recommended for superovulation induction in mice.
Biochem/physiol Actions
Human chorionic gondadotropin (hCG) may be used as an alternative to PMSG to induce ovulation in laboratory animals. When hCG was injected into laboratory animals via intravenous (i.v.), intraperitoneal (i.p.), or subcutaneous (s.c.) methodstet, the effective dose values for 50% of the animals (ED50) per animal and per body weight (kg) in parenthesis were as follows:
Mice: i.v. 0.2 (7.7) I.U.; i.p. 0.3 (11.5) I.U.; s.c. 0.7 (26.9) I.U.
Syrian hamsters: i.v. 1.0 (9.5) I.U.; i.p. 1.8 (17.1) I.U.; s.c. 2.6 (24.8) I.U.
Rats: i.v. 1.3 (4.6) I.U.; i.p. 3.5 (12.3) I.U.; s.c.7.5 (26.3) I.U.

Using PMSG, the ED50 values per animal and per body weight (kg) in parenthesis were as follows:
Mice: i.v. 0.8 (30.8) I.U.; i.p. 2.0 (76.9) I.U.; s.c. 2.8 (107.7) I.U
Syrian hamsters: i.v., 3.6 (34.3) I.U.; i. p., 8.0 (76.2) I.U.; s.c., 13.2 (125.7) I.U.
Rats: i.v., 6.0 (76.8) I.U.; i p., 20.8 (73.0) I.U.; s.c., 76.8 (269.5) I.U.