Effect of HCG Injection on Obesity and Metabolism

Obesity may be due to an abnormal functioning occurring at certain parts of the body and disorders of some regulatory mechanisms which may lead to abnormally accumulated fat. It may be hypothesized that the HCG hormone can lead to, fat extraction from the cells, causing them to be empty then the body breaks down its cellular structure and absorbs it. This work aimed to study the effect of injecting Human Chorionic Gonadotropines (HCG) on the body weight of obese rats and its effect on cholesterol level and thyroid level. Twenty male albino obese rats weighing 350-430 grams wereincludedin this study. They were fed on excess chow and butter and had free access to water for few days for acclimatization then, they were divided into two equal groups: Group I (control), group II (treated with HCG injections). Both groups were fed for one month on quarter the daily requirements while group two were subjected beside that to daily injections of 5IU of the HCG hormone along the whole month. The rats of the two groups were weighed every week and at the end of the month. Fasting blood samples were taken from the rats retroorbitally to detect the cholesterol level and the thyroid hormone level in both groups. Histological samples were taken from liver, kidney and pancreas and examined under light microscope for the presence of fat in these organs. There were significant decrease in the weight of the control group fed on quarter of the daily requirements but the decrease in weight of the group fed on quarter of the daily requirements and were given HCG injections was much greater indicating an effect of the HCG in weight reduction. There were significant decrease in the cholesterol level in both groups after the end of month, while there were non-significant change in the thyroid hormone level in both groups after the end of the month indicating no effect of the HCG hormone on it. There were significant decrease in fat in histological sections in group receiving HCG hormone and this decrease wasmarkedely observed in perinephric fat. Conclusion: HCG injections may be beneficial with strong reduction in dietary requirements in combating obesity.