Devise a hypothesis for use of a specific endocrine hormone (other than chg.) th
ID: 165314 • Letter: D
Question
Devise a hypothesis for use of a specific endocrine hormone (other than chg.) that could be used to detect pregnancy in women. the hormone must be a real hormone made in humans. in your hypothesis, you must explain: Why that hormone may be effective for detecting pregnancy? Specifically, when within gestation would it be most effective in detection? Where specifically is the hormone being made within the pregnant woman, and how that relates to its effectiveness as a potential pregnancy marker? How would you minimize invasiveness when sampling that hormone? (i.e. can it be found in blood, urine, portal system, etc.). If you can't find details in the book to assist with this, you can intuit a logical explanation based on how the different hormone classes (steroids, amines, peptides, etc.) are metabolized in the body.Explanation / Answer
In a reproductive cycle of female, there are many hormones which play a key role for a successful pregnancy. Other than HcG, multiple hormones like follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), progesterone, estrogene.
My hypothesis proposes that luteinizing hormone (LH) can be a hormone of importance which play a key role and can be effective in detecting pregnancy other than HcG.
a)Why?
hCG is produced from the corpus luteal cells. When the structure of hCG is seen, it is noted that the -subunit of hCG is quite similar to the -subunit of LH. During pregnancy detection free subunits of beta hCG are found in our body fluids. Since the structure is similar to that of LH, it can be said that LH can be used to detect pregnancy. In normal scenario, hCG is normally produced by the pituitary gland at the time of LH peaks. Thus we can say that being highly similar in structure and receptors, LH can be an effective biomarker to detect pregnancy.
b)When would it be the most effective?
Since it is stucturally similar to hCG, it is an effective early detector of pregnancy. As early as 3-5 weeks LH can be used a marker to detect pregnancy.
c)Where is the hormone being made and how that relates to the effectiveness as a potential marker?
LH consists Chorionic gonadotropin (CG) along with other pregnancy stabilising hormones like FSH, TSh, HcG. These hormones are the glycoprotein which have a common -subunit coded by a single gene, and a separate -subunit which dictates hormone function. As known hCG and LH share a common -subunit, and the LH -subunit is amidst the other hCG -subunit . The pituitary produces hCG along with higher concentrations of LH. Pituitary hCG has been detected along with LH during the menstrual cycle. Since, both the hormones are being made specifically by the pituitary and also LH has a surge in comparison to hCG it is more effective in being detected as a potent biomarker of pregnancy.
d)How to minimise the invasiveness of sampling the hormone?
LH has a very short circulating half life, while hCG has a long circulating half-time In body fluid like urine regular hCG is approximately 1% of the concentration of LH. In the pituitary gland, however, regular hCG exists at approx. 3% of the concentration LH. Serum shows a 2-fold higher levels of regular hCG than in urine , while 4-fold lower levels of LH are observed. As such, regular hCG levels in serum may be much more significant than observed in urine (approximately 7% of LH concentration).
Hence it can be said that body fluids like urine, serum which are non-invasive can be collected to detect the presence of LH. As hCG is also present in almost equal amounts to LH in the above mentioned concentration, we can use these non-invasive techniques for sampling the hormone LH.
Related Questions
Navigate
Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.