• PMID: 10927037
• Gene Name: INHB
• Condition: Gonadal dysfunction
• Association: Inhibin B plays an important role as an endocrine regulator of FSH secretion, whereas gonadotropins are involved in the regulation of inhibin B secretion.
• Population size: 44
• Population details: 44 (16 with primary testicular failure, 10 with partial idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (IHH), 8 with primary germ cell failure, one with iatrogenic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, one with untreated Kallmann's syndrome, and 8 healthy fertile cont
• Sex: Male
• Infertility type: Male infertility
• Other associated phenotypes: Gonadal dysfunction

Serum inhibin B levels in males with gonadal dysfunction

Kolb BA, Stanczyk FZ, Sokol RZ.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether inhibin B levels are reflective of the etiology of gonadal dysfunction. DESIGN: Institutional study. SETTING: A tertiary care university-affiliated infertility clinic. PATIENT(S): Forty-four men: 16 with primary testicular failure, 10 with partial idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (IHH), 8 with primary germ cell failure, one with iatrogenic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, one with untreated Kallmann's syndrome, and 8 healthy fertile controls. INTERVENTION(S): Three individuals (one each with IHH, hypogonadotropic hypogonadism [HH], and Kallmann's syndrome) underwent treatment with human chorionic gonadotropin. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Baseline serum inhibin B, FSH, LH, total testosterone and estradiol levels, and sperm concentrations were measured. RESULT(S): Serum inhibin B concentrations were significantly higher in fertile controls (255 +/- 59 pg/mL) than in men presenting with primary testicular failure (75 +/- 46 pg/mL, P<.0001) or in those presenting with primary germ cell failure (73 +/- 31 pg/mL, P<.0001). Inhibin B levels were also lower in males with partial IHH (187 +/- 112 pg/mL, P<.05). The patient with iatrogenic HH had a level of 184 pg/mL, whereas the patient with Kallmann's syndrome had nondetectable levels (<10 pg/mL). Serum inhibin B levels correlated positively with sperm concentration (P=.0001), and negatively with FSH levels (P=.01) and LH levels (P<.05). Human chorionic gonadotropin therapy altered inhibin B levels. CONCLUSION(S): Inhibin B plays an important role as an endocrine regulator of FSH secretion, whereas gonadotropins are involved in the regulation of inhibin B secretion. FAU - Kolb, B A AU - Kolb BA AD - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, USA. FAU - Stanczyk, F Z AU - Stanczyk FZ