title: In vitro and in vivo evidence on the site of neutralization of equine chorionic gonadotrophin (eCG) by an eCG antiserum.
abstract: This study was designed to determine whether the major site of eCG neutralization by an antiserum to the hormone is at the peripheral or ovarian level. Hamsters hypophysectomized at oestrus were injected s.c. with 25 iu eCG. Three days later, preovulatory follicles were dissected and cultured for 5 h and the medium was changed every hour. At the end of the first hour of incubation, oestradiol and androstenedione accumulation was high, with a sharp drop over the next 4 h, whereas progesterone concentrations did not change over the entire period. Addition of eCG antiserum to the incubated follicles did not affect steroidogenesis. Addition of 1.0 iu eCG in the second hour or every hour sustained oestradiol production at supraphysiological amounts. However, addition of eCG plus eCG antiserum every hour eliminated the stimulatory effects of eCG on oestradiol production. In another experiment, hamsters injected with eCG were treated 3 days later by i.p. injection of eCG antiserum and groups of animals were killed over the next 8 h. Serum samples before and after injecting eCG antiserum were incubated overnight with a goat anti-rabbit immunoglobulin to separate free, unbound eCG from bound eCG. At time zero (before injecting the antiserum) free eCG was increased, but within 1 h after eCG antiserum there was an eightfold decrease of the hormone, and these concentrations were maintained over the next 7 h. The fall in unbound eCG in vivo coincided with the decay in serum oestradiol and androstenedione.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
mesh_terms: D000735:Androstenedione / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D006224:Cricetinae; D046508:Culture Techniques; D004958:Estradiol / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006064:Gonadotropins, Equine / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006207:Half-Life; D007016:Hypophysectomy; D007106:Immune Sera / Q000276:immunology*; D008647:Mesocricetus; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D006064:Gonadotropins, Equine; D007106:Immune Sera; D000735:Androstenedione; D004958:Estradiol