[Clinical value of inhibin in women]

Inhibin is a peptide secreted in women by the granulosa cells, the corpus luteum and the placenta. This hormone specifically inhibits pituitary FSH secretion. Recent studies have shown that the serum concentration of bioactive and immunoactive inhibin may represent a valuable marker of follicular and luteal functions. Inhibin may also contribute with estrogen and progesterone to FSH suppression during the luteal phase and in pregnancy. Evidence was found that a defect in inhibin secretion is involved in premature ovarian failure and the menopause but not in the polycystic ovary syndrome.