Identification and purification of inhibin and inhibin-related proteins.

Abstract

Within the past 5 years the existence of 'inhibin' has been proven conclusively. After many decades of uncertainty surrounding this putative non-steroidal mediator of gonadal negative feedback, inhibin has been purified to homogeneity, its physico-chemical and biological properties defined, the genes encoding its subunits cloned and sequenced and its physiological role(s) examined in detail. A useful working definition recently proposed by Burger (1988) states that "inhibin is a glycoprotein hormone consisting of two dissimilar disulphide-linked subunits termed aand 13which inhibits pituitary gonadotrophin production and/or secretion, preferentially that of FSH". The literature relating to the discovery, isolation and characterization of inhibin has been reviewed extensively in the past few years and the reader will find much additional information in comprehensive reviews by Findlay (1986), de Jong (1987, 1988), Ying (1988) and Lincoln et al. (1989).