In the present study, we have examined the role of hormones and growth factors in regulating dimeric inhibin production in immature rat granulosa cells. Purified granulosa cells from estrogen-primed immature rats were cultured under defined conditions. Inhibins A and B in the culture media were measured using a two-site enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay specific for each dimer. Under basal cond...

BACKGROUND Inhibins are dimeric gonadal protein hormones that negatively regulate pituitary FSH synthesis and secretion. Inhibin B is produced by testicular Sertoli cells and is the primary circulating form of inhibin in most adult male mammals. Inhibin B is comprised of the inhibin alpha subunit disulfide-linked to the inhibin/activin betaB subunit. Here we describe the cloning of the cDNAs en...

Wt1 encodes a zinc finger nuclear transcriptional factor, which is specifically expressed in testicular Sertoli cells and knockdown of Wt1 in Sertoli cells causes male mice subfertility. However, the underlying mechanism is still unclear. In this study, we found that expression of inhibin-α is significantly reduced in Wt1-deficient Sertoli cells. Luciferase assays using the inhibin-α promoter i...

The aim of this study was to investigate inhibin B and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) secretion in a large group of oligozoospermic subjects affected by different degrees of testicular damage, before and after FSH treatment. A total of 135 oligozoospermic subjects (sperm count < 20 x 10(6)/ml) were evaluated for seminal parameters and FSH, luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone and inhibin ...

The receptor system and the molecular mechanisms by which inhibin acts on its target cells are poorly understood, in contrast to the situation for the structurally related molecule, activin. On the basis of evidence that the biological action of inhibin in a number of systems resembles that of an activin antagonist, it has been contended that inhibin operates by competition for the activin rece...

BACKGROUND Inhibins are important regulators of the female reproductive system. Recently, two new inhibin subunits betaC and betaE have been described, although it is unclear if they are synthesized in normal human endometrium. METHODS Samples of human endometrium were obtained from 82 premenopausal, non-pregnant patients undergoing gynecological surgery for benign diseases. Endometrium sampl...

Background and Objective: Histopathological evaluation of granulosa cell tumors (GCT) of the ovary may be confused morphologically with a wide variety of the tumors. Immunohistochemical staining for inhibin and calretinin can be used for better diagnosis. Although it has been suggested that inhibin can be a sensitive marker for GCT, it maybe had negative results in some cases.  In addition, cal...

The rodent ovary is regulated throughout the reproductive cycle to maintain normal cyclicity. Ovarian follicular development is controlled by changes in gene expression in response to the gonadotropins FSH and LH. The inhibin alpha-subunit gene belongs to a group of genes that is positively regulated by FSH and negatively regulated by LH. Previous studies established an important role for induc...

OBJECTIVE The objective of this study were to (1) quantify the concentrations of inhibin A, activin A, and follistatin in maternal serum and umbilical vein (inhibin A, activin A) in IUGR due to placental dysfunction pregnancies and control group, (2) determine the concentration differences of these factors in maternal and umbilical vein serum in control and subject group, and (3) examine the re...