Metabolism of HCG in man.

ABSTRACT The metabolic clearance rate (MCR) of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) was determined in normal male and female subjects following the intravenous and intramuscular administration of 10,000 IU of HCG. The mean MCR (I/day) in the iv experiments was 3.38 for men and 3.86 for women. These values are approximately 1/10 of the MCR value reported for human luteinizing hormone. Following the iv administration, the plasma disappearance curve showed an initial fast component with a half-life of 5.1 and 5.6 hr for males and females, respectively, while the half-life for the second, slow component was 23.6 for males and 23.9 hr for females.