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Updated: Aug 17, 2026
Isolation of Leukocytes from the Human Maternal-fetal Interface
Published on: May 21, 2015
Inhibin in normal and abnormal pregnancy: maternal serum concentration and partial characterization
A Khalil1, R C Kaufmann, J Wortsman
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Southern Illinois University, School of Medicine, Springfield 62794-9230.
Objective:
This study evaluated maternal serum inhibin concentration and molecular distribution in normal and abnormal pregnancies.
Study Design:
Serum inhibin levels were measured by radioimmunoassay in 33 abnormal pregnancies (23 singleton and 10 multiple gestations) and 33 matched controls and were compared with pregnancy variables.
Results:
In the controls serum inhibin concentrations rose with gestational age (correlation coefficient 0.358, p < 0.01) and were higher in mothers with female fetuses (p < 0.05). Inhibin levels were higher in the abnormal singleton pregnancies (2.69 +/- 1.41 ng/ml) than in controls (1.26 +/- 0.32 ng/ml, p < 0.0001) and increased more rapidly with gestational age in multiple pregnancies (p < 0.05). Gel filtration chromatographic analysis of immunoreactive inhibin revealed three peaks with the major form having an apparent molecular weight of 55 to 60 kd.
Conclusion:
Maternal serum inhibin concentrations are affected by gestational age, fetal gender, and complications of pregnancy. Most of the immunoreactive inhibin in maternal circulation is a large-molecular-weight form.
