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
McBullagh DR. Dual endocrine activity of the ovary. Science
:76:19
Robertson DM. Foulds I.M. Leiersha L. et at. Isolation of
inhibin from bovine follicular fluid. Biophys Res Common
: 126(1):220-26
Cotran RS. Kumar V. Collins T (eds). In Robbins Pathologic
Basis of Disease Ed 6 Philadelphia/WB Saunders Co 1999
-77
McLachlan R.I, Robertson DM, Dekretscr DM. Burger MB
Inhibin a nonsteroidal regulator of pituitary follicle
stimulating hormone. Bailliers Clin Endocrinol Metab
1(1):89-l 12
Weinhauer B. Bartlett JM, Hingscheidt 11 Tsonis CB.
Dekretser DM. Nicschlag F. Evidence for a major role of
inhibin in the feedback control of FSH in the female rat, J
Reprod Fertil 1989: 85(2):355-62.
Wren BG Infertility and contraception in Wren BG (ed)
Handbook of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 2nd Ed London:
Chapman and Hall. 1985:268.
Kuku SF. Akinyanju PA, Djiefo JO. Serum levels of
gonadotropins, progesterone in infertile female. Africans Int .1
Fertility 1987; 32:393-98.
Lappohn RE. Burger HG, Bourna J. Bougah M. Kraus M.
Inhibin as a marker for granulosa cell tumour. Acta Obstet
Gynaecol Scand 1992, 155:61-65.
Christiansen C. Rus BJ Five years with continuous combined
estrogen/mogesterone therapy. Effects on calcium
metabolism, lipoproteins and bleeding pattern. Br J Obstet
Gynaecol 1990; 97:1087-92.
Yohkaichiya T, Fukava T. Hoshiai H. Yajima A, DeKretser
DM. Inhibin: A new circulating marker of hydatidiform mole0
BMJ 1989; 298(24): 1684-86.
I 1. Buckler HM. Robertson WR, Sun JG, Morris ID.
Immunoreactive inhibin levels during ovarian stimulation may
predict granulosa cell maturity. Clin Endocrinol Oxf
37(6) 552-57.
Hughes EB, Robertson DM, Handelsman DJ et at. Inhibin and
estradiol responses to ovarian hy per stimulation. Effects of
age and predictive value for in vitro fertilization outcome. J
Clin Endocrinol Metab 1990; 70:358-64.
Mayne PD (ed). In: Clinical Chemistry in Diagnosis and
Treatment. Glasgow/ELST, 1994:132-155