Placental hormone called chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) which stimulates secretion of progesterone by the ovary during pregnancy is

Options

A. peptide
B. Steroid in nature
C. Biogenic amine
D. Both (1) & (2)

Answer

To solve the question regarding the nature of the placental hormone chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) and its role in stimulating progesterone secretion during pregnancy, we can break down the information step by step.

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding HCG**:
- Chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) is a hormone produced by the placenta during pregnancy. Its primary role is to maintain the corpus luteum, which in turn secretes progesterone.

2. **Nature of HCG**:
- HCG is classified as a glycoprotein hormone. This means it is composed of protein and carbohydrate components. Specifically, it consists of two subunits: an alpha subunit and a beta subunit.

3. **Types of Hormones**:
- Hormones can be classified into different categories based on their chemical structure:
- **Peptide Hormones**: These are made up of chains of amino acids. HCG falls into this category since it is a glycoprotein made of amino acids linked by peptide bonds.
- **Steroid Hormones**: These are derived from cholesterol and have a structure based on four fused carbon rings. HCG is not a steroid hormone.
- **Biogenic Amines**: These are derived from amino acids and contain one or more amine groups. HCG does not fit this classification either.

4. **Conclusion**:
- Since HCG is a glycoprotein composed of amino acids, it is classified as a peptide hormone. Therefore, the correct answer to the question is that HCG is a peptide hormone.

### Final Answer:
HCG is a peptide hormone.

---