Augmentation of Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin by Plasma and Other Non-Hormonal Substances.

Abstract

A 5- to 10-fold increase in the activity of chorionic gonadotropin, as measured in rats, was produced by the in vitro addition of unaltered human plasma. Similar augmentation was observed when the hormone was mixed with boiled human plasma, rat serum, egg white, and polyvinyl-pyrollidone. The augmenting abilities of plasma obtained from 2 hypogonadal individuals, the one having high, the other having low endogenous gonadotropin levels, was no different from that of plasma obtained from normal individuals. Enhancement of hormonal activity did not occur when "augmentor" and hormone were kept separate and injd. at different subcut. sites. It is concluded that the most likely mechanism of augmentation is prolongation of absorption from the site of injn.