HCG

HCG works primarily by binding with high affinity to the LH/choriogonadotropin receptor (LH/CG-R), a G-protein-coupled receptor in the rhodopsin-like family. 

HCG serves as a laboratory tool for evaluating gonadotropin receptor pharmacology, reproductive endocrinology, and steroidogenic pathways. Because it closely mimics LH, researchers use HCG to examine LH/CG-R behaviour, molecular signalling, and gonadotropin functions across various tissues.

Research areas include:

• Male Physiology: Investigating spermatogenesis and testosterone synthesis.
• Female Physiology: Analyzing ovarian steroidogenesis, luteal function, and the hormonal maintenance of pregnancy.
• Advanced Studies: Exploring receptor variants, cellular signalling modulation, creating selective receptor modulators, and serving as a benchmark for synthetic gonadotropin analogues.
• Extragonadal Roles: Studying HCG’s influence on non-reproductive processes like angiogenesis, immune regulation, and cell differentiation.