SIGNIFICANCE OF SERUM INHIBIN IN FEMALE INFERTILITY
Abstract
Background: Serum inhibin, a glycoprotein hormone is secreted from granulosa cells in females and has been shownto suppress secretions of FSH from pituitary. Methods: A total of 45 women, 30 infertile subjects and 15 age matchedfertile controls were included in this study. Blood samples from each subject were collected during follicular and lutealphases separately and were tested for serum inhibin levels using an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Results: Serum inhibin concentration of infertile subjects during follicular phase was 35.5 ± 22.94 pg/ml and lutealphase was 32.4 ± 24.2 pg/ml. Whereas serum inhibin level in follicular phase was 10.39 ± 2.03 pg/ml and luteal phasewas 12.78 ± 6.86 pg/ml of the fertile subjects. Serum inhibin was significantly raised in the infertile subjects ascompared to the fertile subjects (P < 0.05). However, serum inhibin concentration during the follicular and lutealphases of the infertile subjects was not significantly different (P>0.05). Conclusion: It is thus concluded that increasedserum inhibin level may be treated as sensitive and early index of declining ovarian functionReferences
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