inhibin
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Introduction
So named for its property of inhibiting FSH secretion. Member of superfamily of proteins that includes TGF-beta, mullerian inhibitory factor, & activins.
Function
Inhibins & activins inhibit & activate, respectively, secretion of follitropin by the pituitary gland.
they are involved in regulating diverse functions, including:
- hypothalamic hormone secretion
- pituitary hormone secretion
- gonadal hormone secretion
- germ cell development & maturation
- erythroid differentiation
- insulin secretion
- nerve cell survival
- embryonic axial development or bone growth dependent on subunit composition
Inhibins oppose the functions of activins.
Structure
- Inhibins are heterodimers of one alpha & one beta subunit
- Activins are homo- or heterodimers of beta subunits only
Laboratory
More general terms
More specific terms
References
- ↑ Williams Textbook of Endocrinology, 8th ed, JD Wilson & DW Foster (eds), WB Saunders Co, Philadelphia PA, 1992, pg 983
- ↑ Matzuk et al Alpha-inhibin is a tumour-suppressor gene with gonadal specificity in mice. Nature 360:313 1992 PMID: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1448148
- ↑ Medical Knowledge Self Assessment Program (MKSAP) 11, American College of Physicians, Philadelphia 1998