• PMID: 11695842
• Gene Name: INHB
• Condition: Male infertility
• Association: Associated
• Population size: 39
• Population details: 39 infertile men
• Sex: Male
• Infertility type: Male infertility
• Associated genes: INHB ProalphaC
• Other associated phenotypes: Male infertility

Serum inhibin pro alphaC in infertile men

Fujisawa M, Yamazaki I, Dobashi M, Okada H, Kamidono S.

Specific assays have been developed for bioactive inhibin dimers, inhibin A and B, and inhibin alpha-subunit precursor pro alphaC. To better understand the role of serum inhibin pro alphaC in infertile men, the authors measured these forms of inhibin in sera from 39 infertile men and analyzed inhibin relationships with serum gonadotropins, testosterone, and estradiol. All subjects had oligozoospermia. Inhibin A levels were undetectable in all subjects. Inhibin B concentrations were 117 +/- 59 pg/mL. Inhibit B concentrations correlated negatively with serum FSH (r = .584, p < .0001) and positively with sperm count (p < .01) and bilateral testicular volume (r = .607, p < .0001). The concentration of pro alphaC was 556 +/- 236 pg/mL (normal range, 446 +/- 28). Inhibin pro alphaC showed no correlation with serum FSH, LH, testosterone, sperm concentration, and bilateral testicular volume. In addition, inhibin pro alphaC was not correlated with inhibin B. Pro alphaC is unlikely to be a useful marker for spermatogenesis in infertile men compared with inhibin B. FAU - Fujisawa, M AU - Fujisawa M AD - Department of Urology, Kobe University School of Medicine, Japan. masato@med.Kobe-u.ac.jp FAU - Yamazaki, I AU - Yamazaki I FAU - Dobashi, M AU - Dobashi M FAU - Okada, H AU - Okada H