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DOI: 10.1055/a-1235-7973
Equines Choriongonadotropin: Biologie und veterinärmedizinische Bedeutung
Equine chorionic gonadotrophin: Biology and veterinary use![](https://www.thieme-connect.de/media/10.1055-s-00034912/202005/lookinside/thumbnails/10-1055-a-1235-7973-1.jpg)
Zusammenfassung
Die hypophysären Gonadotropine follikelstimulierendes Hormon (FSH) und luteinisierendes Hormon (LH) spielen eine zentrale Rolle bei der Steuerung der Gonadenfunktionen. Daher ist ihr Einsatz in der Therapie von Fruchtbarkeitsstörungen (z. B. Azyklie) sowie in der Biotechnologie (z. B. Superovulation, Hormonprogramme zur Zyklussynchronisation) prinzipiell von hohem Interesse. Präparationen von FSH bzw. LH sind aufgrund der aufwendigen Gewinnung aus Hypophysengewebe relativ teuer und daher besonderen Anwendungen vorbehalten. Bei Primaten- und Equidenarten wurde die Expression eines LH-ähnlichen Moleküls im Chorionepithel nachgewiesen (Choriongonadotropin, CG). Equines CG (eCG) weist außer bei Equiden, bei denen es ausschließlich an LH-Rezeptoren bindet, bei allen bei uns üblichen Haussäugetierspezies neben seiner LH-Aktivität eine außerordentlich hohe FSH-Aktivität auf („duale Wirkung“). Seit seiner Markteinführung kommt ihm daher eine hohe Bedeutung als vergleichsweise kostengünstiges FSH-Analogon vorwiegend zur Anwendung bei Wiederkäuern und Schwein zu. Im Gegensatz zu dem als LH-Analogon eingesetzten humanen CG (hCG), das nicht invasiv aus dem Urin schwangerer Frauen isoliert werden kann, muss die Gewinnung von eCG aus dem Blut trächtiger Spenderstuten erfolgen, da im Urin nur minimale eCG-Konzentrationen vorliegen. Nach Berichten über Todesfälle und Leiden von Spenderstuten im Zusammenhang mit der eCG-Gewinnung in südamerikanischen Haltungen ist das derzeitige Verfahren der eCG-Produktion zunehmend in die öffentliche Kritik geraten, was zuletzt in Forderungen nach einem generellen Verbot mündete. Ziel dieses Beitrags ist daher, den aktuellen Kenntnisstand zu Eigenschaften und Biologie dieses auch aus Sicht der Grundlagenwissenschaft hochinteressanten Moleküls kurz zusammenzufassen.
Abstract
The pituitary gonadotrophins follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) play a prominent role in the control of gonadal functions. Therefore, their use in the treatment of fertility disorders (e. g. anovulatory anestrus) as well as in biotechnology (e. g. superovulation, hormone programs for cycle synchronization) is of substantial interest. Preparations of FSH or LH are relatively expensive due to the laborious extraction from pituitary tissue and are therefore reserved for special indications. In primates and equids, the chorionic epithelium expresses an LH-like molecule (chorionic gonadotrophin, CG). Equine CG (eCG) selectively binds to LH receptors in equids. In all other domestic mammalian species, equine CG (eCG) shows an extraordinarily high FSH activity in addition to its LH activity (“dual activity”). Since its market launch, this has therefore gained considerable importance as a comparatively inexpensive FSH analogue, mainly for use in ruminants and pigs. In contrast to the human CG (hCG), which may be isolated non-invasively from the urine of pregnant women and is widely used as LH analogue, eCG must be extracted from the blood of pregnant donor mares, as eCG concentrations in urine are only minimal. Following reports of deaths and suffering of donor mares associated with eCG collection in South American settings, the current practice of eCG production has given rise to increasing public criticism. This has recently led to calls for a general production ban. Primary aim of this review is therefore to summarize the current state of knowledge concerning the properties and biology of this molecule, which is also highly interesting from the point of view of basic science.
Publikationsverlauf
Eingereicht: 20. Februar 2020
Angenommen: 15. Mai 2020
Artikel online veröffentlicht:
20. Oktober 2020
© 2020. Thieme. All rights reserved.
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