Human chorionic gonadotropin inhibits insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1 and prolactin in decidualized human endometrial stromal cells.

Recent data clearly show that hCG, as one of the first hormonal signals of the embryo, is involved in the modulation of endometrial receptivity in the secretory phase. Here we report a significant dose- and time-dependent inhibition of insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1 and prolactin by hCG in human endometrial stromal cells after decidualization in vitro-findings that further underline the role of hCG in the endometrial milieu during early implantation.