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This laboratory report discusses human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and luteinizing hormone (LH): 1. hCG is secreted by the placenta in pregnant women and supports the corpus luteum to maintain pregnancy, while LH secretion is regulated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and affects fertility. 2. hCG suppresses the immune system during pregnancy to provide tolerance for the fetus, while high LH can indicate infertility issues like polycystic ovary syndrome. 3. The roles of LH and hCG are distinct - LH regulates ovulation and steroidogenesis, while hCG is mainly active during pregnancy and fetal development.

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GERA KAYE BUNCALAN
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91 views2 pages

Disxussion

This laboratory report discusses human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and luteinizing hormone (LH): 1. hCG is secreted by the placenta in pregnant women and supports the corpus luteum to maintain pregnancy, while LH secretion is regulated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and affects fertility. 2. hCG suppresses the immune system during pregnancy to provide tolerance for the fetus, while high LH can indicate infertility issues like polycystic ovary syndrome. 3. The roles of LH and hCG are distinct - LH regulates ovulation and steroidogenesis, while hCG is mainly active during pregnancy and fetal development.

Uploaded by

GERA KAYE BUNCALAN
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Laboratory Report 24

Discussion Questions:
1. Explain how hCG secretion is regulated. Is it secreted by a pregnant woman or her offspring?
2. hCG depresses some of the immune system. What adaptive advantage do you think this has?
3. How is LH secretion regulated? What effects does the changing blood of this hormone have?
4. Compare and contrast the reproductive roles of LH and hCG

Answers:
1. Human chorionic gonadotropin or hCG is a placental hormone initially secreted by cells
(syncytiotrophoblasts) from the implanting conceptus during week 2, supporting the ovarian
corpus luteum, which in turn supports the endometrial lining and therefore maintains
pregnancy. Also hCG genes is regulated by several hormones (corticosteroids, progesterone,
GnRH), growth factors (placental growth hormone, leukemia inhibitory factor, vascular
endothelial growth factor (VEGF)), cytokines (Interleukin (IL)-6, epidermal growth factors
(EGF), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α) and more. This hormone is secreted by the placenta in
"pregnant women", therefore it is secreted by the pregnant woman and not by the offspring.
Human chorionic gonadotropin is a hormone produced by the cells that surround the growing
human embryo; these cells will eventually go on to form the placenta.
2. ​hCG hormone is a naturally occurring, immune-modulating agent, which is highly expressed
during pregnancy and causes improvements of some autoimmune diseases such as multiple
sclerosis and Crohn’s disease. Successful pregnancy involves controlled downregulation of the
maternal immune system with increased tolerance of foetal cells expressing paternal HLA
antigens. This is mediated principally by human chorionic gonadotropin which has a
documented ability to alter the action of T cells, dendritic cells and natural killer cells as well as
increasing vascularisation.
3​. Too much luteinizing hormone can be an indication of infertility. Since the secretion of
luteinising hormone is tightly controlled by the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, high levels
of luteinising hormone in the bloodstream can indicate decreased sex steroid production from
the testes or ovaries (for example, as in premature ovarian failure).
Polycystic ovary syndrome is a common condition in women associated with high levels of
luteinising hormone and reduced fertility. In this condition, an imbalance between luteinising
hormone and follicle stimulating hormone can stimulate inappropriate production of
testosterone.
4. Abstract Luteinizing hormone (LH) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) are integral
components of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, which controls sexual maturation and
functionality. Luteinizing hormone (LH) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) serve different
roles in reproductive physiology. ​Luteinizing hormone (LH) contributes to the diving force
behind gonadal steroidogenesis and regulation of ovulation, while Human Chorionic
Gonadotropin (hCG) is secreted in large amounts only during pregnancy. Although LH and hCG
share the same receptor, many of their actions remain distinct.
In the absence of signaling through their shared receptor, fetal sexual differentiation and
post-natal development cannot proceed normally. Although they share a high degree of
homology, the physiologic roles of these hormones are unique, governed by differences in
expression pattern, biopotency and regulation. Whereas LH is a key regulator of gonadal
steroidogenesis and ovulation, hCG is predominantly active in pregnancy and fetal development.

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