Inhibins and activins: clinical advances in reproductive medicine

Tong, Stephen; Wallace, Euan M.; Burger, Henry

doi:10.1046/j.1365-2265.2003.01686.x

Cited by 41 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 216 publications

(293 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Several studies have shown a significant decrease in the serum levels of inhibin B during the follicular phase in women of advanced reproductive age with ovulatory cycles, concomitant with an increase in the FSH levels [76][77][78][79][80][81][82][83][84]. It has been shown that the main sources of inhibin B in the circulation are the pre-antral and small antral follicles [85][86][87].…”

Section: Menopausementioning

confidence: 99%

Reproductive ageing in women

Djahanbakhch

Ezzati

Zosmer

2007

The Journal of Pathology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The traditional view in respect to female reproduction is that the number of oocytes at birth is fixed and continuously declines towards the point when no more oocytes are available after menopause. In this review we briefly discuss the embryonic development of female germ cells and ovarian follicles. The ontogeny of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis is then discussed, with a focus on pubertal transition and normal ovulatory menstrual cycles during female adult life. Biochemical markers of menopausal transition are briefly examined. We also examine the effects of age on female fertility, the contribution of chromosomal abnormalities of the oocyte to the observed decline in female fertility with age and the possible biological basis for the occurrence of such abnormalities. Finally, we consider the effects of maternal age on obstetric complications and perinatal outcome. New data that have the potential to revolutionize our understanding of mammalian oogenesis and follicular formation, and of the female reproductive ageing process, are also briefly considered.

show abstract

Section: Menopausementioning

confidence: 99%

Reproductive ageing in women

Djahanbakhch

Ezzati

Zosmer

2007

The Journal of Pathology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Inhibin beta genes (Inhba and Inhbb) encode inhibin beta proteins (INHBA and INHBB), which are subunits of inhibins (dimers of inhibin alpha and beta subunits) and activins (dimers of inhibin beta subunits) (27,28). The presence of Inhba mRNA, but not Inhbb mRNA (shown in ref.…”

Section: Inhba Is a Mesenchyme-derived Gene That Is Required For Epitmentioning

confidence: 99%

Essential roles of inhibin beta A in mouse epididymal coiling

Tomaszewski

Joseph²,

Archambeault³

et al. 2007

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Testis-derived testosterone has been recognized as the key factor for morphogenesis of the Wolffian duct, the precursor of several male reproductive tract structures. Evidence supports that testosterone is required for the maintenance of the Wolffian duct via its action on the mesenchyme. However, it remains uncertain how testosterone alone is able to facilitate formation of regionally specific structures such as the epididymis, vas deferens, and seminal vesicle from a straight Wolffian duct. In this study, we identified inhibin beta A (or Inhba) as a regional paracrine factor in mouse mesonephroi that controls coiling of the epithelium in the anterior Wolffian duct, the future epididymis. Inhba was expressed specifically in the mesenchyme of the anterior Wolffian duct at embryonic day 12.5 before the production of androgens. In the absence of Inhba, the epididymis failed to develop the characteristic coiling in the epithelium, which showed a dramatic decrease in proliferation. This loss of epididymal coiling did not result from testosterone deficiency, because testosterone production and parameters for testosterone action such as testis descent and anogenital distance remained normal. We further found that initial Inhba expression did not require testosterone as Inhba was also expressed in the anterior Wolffian duct of female embryos where no testosterone was produced. However, Inhba expression at later stages depended on testosterone. These results demonstrated that Inhba, a mesenchyme-specific gene, acts collectively with testosterone to facilitate epididymal coiling by stimulating epithelial proliferation.activin ͉ androgen ͉ epididymis ͉ Wolffian duct

show abstract

“…Numerous in vitro and in vivo animal studies, as well as data from clinical settings have substantiated the importance of activins and inhibins as modulators of the reproductive axis and normal reproductive function (de Kretser et al 2002, Welt et al 2002, Tong et al 2003, Muttukrishna et al 2004, Luisi et al 2005. Inhibins and, shortly thereafter, activins were identified as components of gonadal fluids that exhibit the ability to suppress or stimulate follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) secretion from pituitary gonadotropes respectively (Vale et al 1990).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pituitary actions of ligands of the TGF-β family: activins and inhibins

Bilezikjian¹,

Blount²,

Donaldson³

et al. 2006

Reproduction

127

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Activins, as members of the transforming growth factor-b superfamily, control and orchestrate many physiological processes and are vital for the development, growth and functional integrity of most tissues, including the pituitary. Activins produced by pituitary cells work in conjunction with central, peripheral, and other local factors to influence the function of gonadotropes and maintain a normal reproductive axis. Follistatin, also produced by the pituitary, acts as a local buffer to bind activin and modulate its bioactivity. On the other hand, inhibins of gonadal origin provide an endocrine feedback signal to antagonize activin signaling in cells that express the inhibin co-receptor, betaglycan, such as gonadotropes. This review highlights the pituitary roles of activin and the mechanisms through which these actions are modulated by inhibin and follistatin.

show abstract

Inhibins and activins: clinical advances in reproductive medicine

Cited by 41 publications

References 216 publications

Reproductive ageing in women

Reproductive ageing in women

Essential roles of inhibin beta A in mouse epididymal coiling

Pituitary actions of ligands of the TGF-β family: activins and inhibins

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About