Evolution of the human brain, chorionic gonadotropin and hemochorial implantation of the placenta: insights into origins of pregnancy failures, preeclampsia and choriocarcinoma.
Hyperglycosylated chorionic gonadotropin (CG-H) signals placental cytotrophoblast cell growth and invasion, and chorionic gonadotropin (CG) promotes uterine vascularization. A hypothesis is presented relating the evolution of these molecules to the evolution of human hemochorial implantation and that of the human brain. Deep placental invasion, vascularization and hemochorial placentation, under the influence of CG and CG-H, are a critical part of the nutrition and energy-generating mechanisms needed for human brain development and thus for the evolution of humans. Insufficient CG-H production and the resulting inappropriate implantation is associated with an unduly high incidence of pregnancy failures in humans. Low levels of CG-H and inappropriate hemochorial placentation also appear to be associated with subsequent preeclampsia. It is also of note that human CG-H drives invasion by gestational trophoblastic neoplasms that have been described only in humans.
Cole
Laurence A
LA
USA hCG Reference Service and Division of Women's Health, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque 87131, USA. larry@hcglab.com
Khanlian
Sarah A
SA
Kohorn
Ernest I
EI
D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D001921:Brain / Q000196:embryology*; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D031901:Gestational Trophoblastic Disease / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D010920:Placenta / Q000502:physiology; D010929:Placentation / Q000502:physiology; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000503:physiopathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011323:Primates / Q000502:physiology
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; C024889:glycosylated HCG