Abstract
There is ample evidence that the secretion of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) by the pituitary gland is regulated by a non-steroidal hormone of gonadal origin, termed inhibin1–3. In several species, testicular extracts4, gonadal lymph5 and seminal plasma6 have been shown to contain proteins which inhibit FSH release; lack of suitable assays for inhibin has, however, prevented clear definition of its physiological significance. Men whose testes show the histological changes of germinal cell failure usually have raised FSH levels in the blood, but may have normal levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone7. Such patients would thus be predicted to show reduced inhibin production. To test this, we have measured the FSH inhibitory activity of seminal plasma from azoospermic subjects with raised plasma FSH levels. We report here our confirmation of diminished inhibin levels in seminal plasma of these patients, thus providing convincing support for its physiological role as a modulator of FSH production in man.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on SpringerLink
- Instant access to the full article PDF.
USD 39.95
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Lee, V. W. K. et al. in Recent Advances in Reproduction and Regulation of Fertility (ed. Talwar, G. P.) 241–252 (Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1979).
De Jong, F. H. Molec cell. Endocr. 13, 1–10 (1979).
Franchimont, P., Chari, S., Hazee-Hagelstein, M. T., Debruche, M. L. & Duraiswami, S. in The Testis in Normal and Infertile Men (eds Troen, P. & Nankin, H. R.) 253–270 (Raven, New York, 1977).
Keogh, E. J. et al. Endocrinology 98, 997–1004 (1976).
Baker, H. W. G. et al. Int. J. Andrology Suppl. 2, 115–125 (1978).
Franchimont, P. et al. Int. J. Andrology Suppl. 2, 69–80 (1978).
Baker, H. W. G. et al. Recent Prog. Horm. Res. 32, 429–476 (1976).
Borth, R. in Methods of Hormone Analysis (eds Breuer. H., Hamel. D. & Kruskemper, H.L.) 500–513. (Thieme, Stuttgart, 1976).
Scott, R. S., Burger, H. G. & Quigg, H. Endocrinology (in the press).
Eddie, L. W., Baker, H. W. G., Higginson, R. E. & Hudson, B. J. Endocr. 81, 49–60 (1979).
de Kretser, D. M., Burger, H. G. & Hudson, B. J. clin. Endocr. Metab. 38, 787–793 (1974).
Lee, V. W. K., de Kretser, D. M., Hudson, B. & Wang, C. J. Reprod. Fert. 42, 121–126 (1975).
Finney, D. J. Statistical Method in Biological Assay 2nd edn (Griffin, London, 1964).
Franchimont, P. J. R. Coll. Phycus, Lond 6 283–298 (1972).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Scott, R., Burger, H. Inhibin is absent from azoospermic semen of infertile men. Nature 285, 246–247 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1038/285246a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/285246a0
