Studies were conducted to examine the effects of human gonadotrophin (hCG) and snake venom (Cerastes cerastes cerastes) on the serum levels of 17β-estradiol, progesterone, follicular stimulating hormone (FSH) and leuteinizing hormone (LH) Immature female rats were injected two doses weekly for one month with different doses of hCG (10 and 50 IU), crude venom (1/10 and 1/20 LD) and venum fractions (F₁, F₂ and F₃, with sublethal doses). The results revealed a significant increase in 17β- estradiol and progesterone in female immature rats treated with hCG, crude venom and F, as compared with that of the control animals.
Furthermore, the treatment with the hCG increased the serum levels of FSH and LH, whereas the venom and its fraction (F₁) caused a significant decrease in circulating levels of FSH and LH compared with that of the control. On the other hand, venom fractions F₂, and F₃, did not affect the levels of these hormones. This suggests that hCG and Cerastes cerastes cerastes venom stimulated the gonadal secretion of progesterone and 17β- estradiol. On the other hand, venom did not modify the production of FSH and LH hormones