What HCG is
Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) is not a peptide in the sense most of this catalogue is — it is a glycoprotein hormone, a heterodimer of two non-covalently associated subunits with substantial carbohydrate content. The alpha subunit is shared with LH, FSH and TSH; the beta subunit is what confers specificity. That shared-alpha architecture is the single most important fact about it in research: it is why HCG binds the LH receptor, and why assays that do not distinguish the beta subunit cross-react across the whole glycoprotein hormone family.
- HCGGlycoprotein hormone, α/β heterodimer
- LH/CG receptorShared with luteinising hormone
- Gs → cAMP → steroidogenesisLong half-life relative to LH
- Gonadal-axis modelsClinical
Mechanism as described in published research. Nothing here describes an effect in a person — these compounds are supplied for laboratory research use only.
LH-receptor agonism
HCG is a potent agonist at the luteinizing hormone / choriogonadotropin receptor (LHCGR). Because its circulating half-life is considerably longer than that of LH itself, it functions in research as a sustained LH-receptor stimulus where native LH would give a pulsatile and short-lived one. That property is why it appears so frequently as a standard in gonadal-axis work: it produces a stable, reproducible receptor stimulus that is straightforward to time against.
Studies examining the axis upstream of the gonads typically pair it with a hypothalamic tool such as Kisspeptin-10, which acts on GnRH neurons well before the LH receptor is reached, allowing the two levels of the axis to be separated.
What the literature covers
Research areas include:
- Gonadal-axis stimulation models — HCG as a reproducible LH-receptor stimulus in steroidogenesis research.
- Receptor pharmacology — LHCGR binding, internalisation and downstream cAMP signalling.
- Glycoprotein hormone structure — the role of glycosylation in half-life and receptor interaction, where HCG is the most-studied member of the family.
- Assay development — beta-subunit-specific detection, given the shared alpha subunit across LH, FSH and TSH.
A handling note specific to HCG
Because HCG is a glycoprotein rather than a short synthetic peptide, it is more sensitive to handling than most of the catalogue. Surface adsorption and freeze–thaw cycling matter more here, and reconstituted material should be aliquoted rather than repeatedly re-entered where a protocol allows it. The general storage guide applies, with the caveat that glycoproteins are less forgiving than lyophilized short peptides.
Identity and verification
Every lot is tested by an independent laboratory before release. Our certificate library covers the lots currently in stock.
We use two laboratories because purity and identity are different questions. Vanguard Laboratory is ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited (A2LA #6377.01.01) and reports chromatographic purity and net quantity with a stated measurement uncertainty. Freedom Diagnostics reports HPLC-UV purity together with LC-MS identity confirmation — the test that catches a substituted compound rather than merely an impure one. A sample can be 99% pure and still be the wrong molecule. How we test →
Handling, reconstitution and storage
HCG ships lyophilized — freeze-dried to a solid and sealed under vacuum — which is what makes it stable in transit rather than a solution racing a clock. Reconstitute with bacteriostatic water, added slowly down the inside wall of the vial rather than directly onto the powder, then swirled gently. Do not shake: mechanical shear is one of the few things that reliably degrades a peptide in the lab.
Final concentration is a function of the volume added, not of the compound, so the same vial can be prepared at very different concentrations. The reconstitution calculator works out the volume for a target concentration and the reconstitution guide covers the procedure. Store lyophilized vials at −20 °C (−4 °F) protected from light; refrigerate once in solution, and see the storage and stability guide for how long reconstituted material holds.
Common questions
Is HCG a peptide?
Not strictly. HCG is a glycoprotein hormone — a heterodimer of two subunits with substantial carbohydrate content — rather than a short synthetic peptide. It is grouped with research peptides commercially, but structurally it is a different class of molecule and is handled accordingly.
Why does HCG bind the LH receptor?
HCG shares its alpha subunit with LH, FSH and TSH; the beta subunit determines specificity. The shared architecture is why HCG is a potent agonist at the LH/choriogonadotropin receptor, and why assays that do not target the beta subunit cross-react across the family.
Why is HCG used instead of LH in research?
Its circulating half-life is considerably longer, so it delivers a sustained and reproducible LH-receptor stimulus where native LH gives a short, pulsatile one. That makes experimental timing far more tractable.
Does HCG need different handling to other peptides?
Yes. As a glycoprotein it is more sensitive to surface adsorption and freeze–thaw cycling than a lyophilized short peptide. Aliquot reconstituted material where the protocol allows rather than repeatedly re-entering a single vial.
Where to get it
Buy research-grade HCG — independently tested, certificate published, shipped from Miami with cold-chain packaging. Current pricing for every size is on the price list, and we ship worldwide.
Research use only
Everything referenced here is supplied strictly for laboratory research. These compounds are not drugs, foods, cosmetics or medical devices, are not for human or veterinary use, and are not approved for diagnostic or therapeutic application. Mechanisms are described as studied in preclinical and laboratory research; nothing above describes dosing, treatment or clinical outcome.
