Inhibin contains an alpha and beta subunit linked by disulfide bonds. Two forms of inhibin differ in their beta subunits (A or B), while their alpha subunits are identical.
Inhibin belongs to the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) superfamily.
Action
In both females and males, inhibin inhibits FSH production. However, the overall mechanism differs between the genders:
In females
In women, FSH stimulates the secretion of inhibin from the granulosa cells of the ovarian follicles in ovary. In turn, inhibin suppresses FSH.
In men, it is a hormone that inhibits FSH production.
It is secreted from the Sertoli cells,[2] located in the seminiferous tubule inside the testes.
Activin
Activin is a related peptide that counteracts inhibin.
Clinical significance
Quantification of inhibin A is part of the prenatal quad screen that can be administered during pregnancy at a gestational age of 16-18 weeks. An elevated inhibin A (along with an increased beta-hCG, decreased AFP, and a decreased estriol) is[3] suggestive of the presence of a fetus with Down's syndrome. As a screening test, abnormal quad screen test results need to be followed up with more definitive tests.
^ van Zonneveld P, Scheffer G, Broekmans F, Blankenstein M, de Jong F, Looman C, Habbema J, te Velde E (2003). "Do cycle disturbances explain the age-related decline of female fertility? Cycle characteristics of women aged over 40 years compared with a reference population of young women". Hum Reprod18 (3): 495-501. PMID 12615813.
^ Skinner M, McLachlan R, Bremner W (1989). "Stimulation of Sertoli cell inhibin secretion by the testicular paracrine factor PModS". Mol Cell Endocrinol66 (2): 239-49. PMID 2515083.
^
Aitken D, Wallace E, Crossley J, Swanston I, van Pareren Y, van Maarle M, Groome N, Macri J, Connor J (1996). "Dimeric inhibin A as a marker for Down's syndrome in early pregnancy". N Engl J Med334 (19): 1231-6. PMID 8606718.
^ Robertson D, Pruysers E, Jobling T. "Inhibin as a diagnostic marker for ovarian cancer". Cancer Lett. PMID 17320281.
^ Robertson D, Pruysers E, Burger H, Jobling T, McNeilage J, Healy D (2004). "Inhibins and ovarian cancer". Mol Cell Endocrinol225 (1-2): 65-71. PMID 15451569.