This Article Full Text (PDF) Submit a related Letter to the Editor Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints, Permissions and Rights Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by SOWERS, J. R. Articles by PEKARY, A. E. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by SOWERS, J. R. Articles by PEKARY, A. E.

Effect of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin on Thyroid Function in Euthyroid Men^*

Endocrine Section, Wadsworth Veterans Administration Hospital Center, Department of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, California 90073
Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, University of Missouri Kansas City, Missouri

Address requests for reprints to: Dr. Jerome M. Hershman, Endocrine Section, Wadsworth Veterans Administration Hospital, Los Angeles, California 90073.

The effect of large doses of commercial hCG on thyroid function was studied in eight men who received 100,000 or 150,000 IU hCG iv. These large doses of hCG produced definite thyroidal iodine release (TIR) responses in all eight men. The TIR after hCG administration was more delayed and of lesser magnitude than the TIR responses to TSH and TRH. There were no significant changes in serum T₄, T₃, or TSH for 48 h after hCG administration. No clinical side effects were noted in the subjects after iv administration of these large doses of hCG. The results of this study indicate that hCG is a weak thyroid stimulator in man.

^* This work was supported by the V.A. and USPHS Research Grant HD-7181.

Received November 28, 1977.