Advances on Inhibin Genes
抑制素基因的研究进展Advances on Inhibin Genes

Inhibins are gonadal glycoprotein hormones belonging to the transforming growth factor-beta superfamily that act to suppress pituitary follicle-stimulating hormone synthesis and secretion. In this paper, we briefly introduced the cloning, structure, localization, polymorphism, expression, molecular regulation of inhibin-alpha(INHA), -betaA (INHBA) and -beta B (INHBB) subunit genes and their relationships with reproductive performance and cancer. The inhibin genes (INHA, INHBA and INHBB) had significant effect on litter size in sheep. The ovine INHA, INHBA and INHBB genes had been mapped to chromosomes 2q41-->q43, 4q26 and 2q31-->q33, respectively. The female mice carrying INHBB mutations suffered from distinct developmental and reproductive defects. The INHA gene was significantly associated with premature ovarian failure in women.