EFFECT OF TOXIC URINARY EXTRACTS ON SPECIFIC ASSAYS FOR HUMAN CHORIONIC GONADOTROPHIN AND FOLLICLE-STIMULATING HORMONE

Abstract

ABSTRACT Boiled urinary extracts, which had inhibited the activity of human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) in the mouse uterus assay, potentiated the effects of HCG and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in the ovarian ascorbic acid depletion and rat ovarian augmentation assays respectively. This treatment inhibited responses to FSH when the ovarian augmentation assay was conducted in hypophysectomised animals. A toxic urinary extract did not affect the activity of HCG in the ventral prostate weight assay in either intact or hypophysectomised rats. Reasons for the different effects of boiled urinary extracts in these assays are discussed.