It's just another name for HCG (human chorionic gonadotrophin) which basically acts like luteinizing hormone in the body.
LH hormone is essentially the signal that tells the testis to produce testosterone.
"SCHEDULING STATUS:
S4
PROPRIETARY NAME
(and dosage form):
A.P.L.® Injection 5 000 IU
A.P.L.® Injection 10 000 IU
plus Sterile Diluent for A.P.L.®Injection
COMPOSITION:
A.P.L. (human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG)) is biologically standardised and the potency is declared in terms of the second International Standard for Chorionic Gonadotropin. Each unit represents the specific gonadotropic activity of 0,001279 mg of the standard preparation held by the National Institute for Medical Research (England) on behalf of the World Health Organisation.
When reconstituted with 10 mL of accompanying sterile diluent, the resulting solutions also contain 2,0% Benzyl alcohol as a pr preservative, not more than 0,2% phenol, and the following concentration of (lactose: APL 5 000: 0,9%; APL 10 000:1,8%.
PHARMACOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION:
Category A, 21.10 Trophic hormones.
PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTION:
Chorionic gonadotropin is a hormone of human pregnancy; it is secreted by the syncytiotrophoblast of foetal placenta as early as 7 days after ovulation, and it is absorbed into the blood in sufficient quantity to sustain luteal function and forestall the next menstrual period. The secretion of LH therefore remains suppressed because of the rising concentrations of oestrogen and progesterone (Lipsett and Ross, 1978).
Peak levels of serum HCG are reached between the eighth and twelfth weeks of gestation. Thereafter, the levels decline reaching a nadir in the second trimester where they remain until parturition.
The changes in the corpus luteum in early pregnancy reflect the intense luteotrophic stimulation provided by the LH-like action of chorionic gonadotropin.
In the pregnant woman HCG is placentotrophic, increasing the output of oestrogens and progestogens from the placenta. An adrenotrophic effect on the foetus has also been demonstrated.
In the male, A.P.L. (chorionic gonadotropin) is given in an attempt to stimulate the interstitial cells of the testes (cells of Leydig) to produce androgen. The response may be considered similar to the effect produced by the interstitial cell-stimulating hormone (ICSH) from the anterior lobe of the pituitary (anterior pituitary-like).
A.P.L. is likely to be of benefit in conditions directly related to insufficient secretion of androgen provided the interstitial cells of the testes are capable of stimulation.
A.P.L. (human chorionic gonadotropin) has no known effect on fat mobilization, appetite or sense of hunger or body fat distribution. HCG has not been demonstrated to be effective adjunctive therapy in the treatment of obesity."
