Effect in vitro of high doses of HCG in the progesterone synthesis from pregnenolone in human term placenta

GENTI DE RAIMONDI SUSANA; PATRITO LUIS; NOWOTNY EDGAR; FLURY ALFREDO

C M B ASSOC

Año: 1981 vol. 27 p. 573 - 573

he effect of high doses of hCG in the bioconversion step pregnenolone to progesterone from in vitro human term placenta incubated during a short period of time (30min) was studied. Results obtained showed no effect upon the bioconversion in doses ranging between 1500 and 15,000 iu/g of tissue. With doses of 30,000 iu/g a significant increase of 40% was observed in the metabolized pregnenolone precursor or in the progesterone product. The rabbit immunoglobulin anti-hCG added to the system was able to inhibit the basal formation of progesterone. This inhibition was overcome in a 40% when to the aforementioned system was added again 30,000 iu hCG/g tissue, indicating the specificity oof hCG action. From the results obtained, it is concluded that hCG displayed activity in the steroidogenic step of pregnenolone to progesterone during short periods of time only when high doses were used.