help button home button Endocrine Society JCEM JCEM Call for Nominations for EIC
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS

This Article
Right arrow Abstract Freely available
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit a related Letter to the Editor
Right arrow Purchase Article
Right arrow View Shopping Cart
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Request Copyright Permission
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Welt, C. K.
Right arrow Articles by Hall, J. E.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Welt, C. K.
Right arrow Articles by Hall, J. E.
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism Vol. 84, No. 6 2163-2169
Copyright © 1999 by The Endocrine Society


From the Clinical Research Centers

Inhibin A and Inhibin B Responses to Gonadotropin Withdrawal Depends on Stage of Follicle Development1

Corrine K. Welt, Judith M. Adams, Patrick M. Sluss and Janet E. Hall

Reproductive Endocrine Unit, Reproductive Endocrine Sciences Center and National Center for Infertility Research, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02114

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Dr. Corrine K. Welt, Reproductive Endocrine Unit, Reproductive Endocrine Sciences Center and National Center for Infertility Research, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02114.


    Abstract
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Subjects and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
Previous studies demonstrate that inhibin A and B are differentially secreted across the menstrual cycle. To test the hypothesis that the responses of inhibin A and inhibin B to partial gonadotropin withdrawal are influenced by the stage of follicular development, a maximally suppressive dose of the Nal-Glu GnRH antagonist (150 µg/kg) was administered to normal cycling women during the midfollicular (MFP; n = 8), late follicular (LFP; n = 6), and midluteal phase (MLP; n = 5) to assess ovarian responsiveness over a broad range of developmental stages.

Administration of the GnRH antagonist resulted in a significant decrease in LH (75 ± 5%, 63 ± 3%, and 84 ± 7%; P < 0.05) and FSH (23 ± 9%, 32 ± 5%, and 39 ± 6%; P < 0.04) during the MFP, LFP, and MLP, respectively. During the MFP, partial withdrawal of gonadotropins resulted in disappearance of the dominant follicle on ultrasound accompanied by a decrease in estradiol (E2; 64.9 ± 11.4 to 23.9 ± 3.3 pg/mL; P < 0.02) and inhibin B levels (121.6 ± 14.8 to 28.4 ± 4.8 pg/mL; P < 0.002) from baseline to near the limit of detection. Inhibin A was near the limit of detection in this cycle stage (0.8 ± 0.1 IU/mL). When gonadotropins were withdrawn during the LFP, the size of the dominant follicle remained stationary in four of five subjects, and inhibin B (84.1 ± 14.1 to 22.2 ± 3.4 pg/mL; 71 ± 5%; P < 0.02), inhibin A (4.4 ± 1.1 to 1.3 ± 0.5 IU/mL; 71 ± 7%; P < 0.02), and E2 (236.8 ± 48.2 to 95.6 ± 39.0 pg/mL; 61 ± 12%; P < 0.02) decreased similarly. Time to ovulation was shorter in association with higher inhibin A (r = -0.67; P < 0.02) and E2 (r = -0.79; P < 0.003), but there was no relation to inhibin B. During the MLP, decreased gonadotropin levels resulted in the disappearance of corpus luteum function with a significant decrease in inhibin A (9.0 ± 0.4 to 0.7 ± 0.1 IU/mL; 92 ± 1%; P < 0.0001) in combination with decreased E2 (150.4 ± 22.9 to 23.8 ± 4.2 pg/mL; 83 ± 3%; P < 0.005) and progesterone (12.6 ± 2.6 to 0.9 ± 0.2 ng/mL; 92 ± 2%; P < 0.01).

Administration of a GnRH antagonist at precise stages of the menstrual cycle provides further evidence that differential regulation of inhibin A and inhibin B is critically dependent on the stage of follicular development. Inhibin B secretion is exquisitely sensitive to gonadotropin withdrawal during the MFP when inhibin A has not yet risen. Inhibin A and inhibin B decrease equally after GnRH antagonist administration during the LFP. However, before antagonist administration, the positive correlation between estradiol and inhibin A and time to ovulation and the lack of such a correlation with inhibin B suggest that the source of inhibin B secretion is different from that of inhibin A and E2. The decrease in inhibin A secretion after antagonist administration during the luteal phase confirms gonadotropin-dependent secretion of dimeric inhibin A by the corpus luteum.


    Introduction
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Subjects and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
FOLLICULAR growth from the antral stage requires gonadotropin support. Previous studies using a GnRH antagonist demonstrate that early follicular growth in the human (1, 2, 3) and corpus luteum function in the nonhuman primate (4, 5) and human (1, 2, 3, 6, 7) are exquisitely gonadotropin dependent. However, a decrease in gonadotropin dependence occurs with follicular maturation from the midfollicular (MFP) to the late follicular (LFP) phase (1, 3, 8, 9).

Follicles also exhibit changes in the pattern of inhibin subunit synthesis and secretion of dimeric hormone through stages of growth across reproductive cycles in a variety of animal species (10, 11, 12, 13), including the human (14, 15, 16). These changes in inhibin may play both an endocrine role in the regulation of FSH and an autocrine/paracrine role in follicular development (17). Inhibin ßB-subunit expression is highest in the granulosa cells of small antral follicles (13, 16), ßA-subunit expression is highest in the dominant follicle and in the corpus luteum, and {alpha}-subunit expression appears relatively constant throughout follicular maturation after antrum formation (16). Serum inhibin A and inhibin B levels across the menstrual cycle mirror these changes in messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) levels (18, 19, 20, 21, 22). Thus, developing follicles appear to secrete inhibin B, whereas the dominant and/or luteinized follicle appears to secrete inhibin A in normal cycles.

In vitro studies from animal species suggest that inhibin secretion is gonadotropin dependent. FSH stimulates inhibin expression and secretion from immature granulosa cells in the rat (23, 24, 25, 26, 27), nonhuman primate (28), and human (29). Both LH and FSH stimulate inhibin expression and secretion from rat granulosa cells pretreated with FSH to induce LH receptor formation (23, 26) and from the granulosa cells of dominant follicles in nonhuman primates and humans (28, 29). Studies in the human female demonstrated FSH stimulation of inhibin A and inhibin B secretion during the follicular phase (22, 30, 31). However, examination of physiological gonadotropin stimulation of dimeric inhibin is limited in the majority of these in vivo studies by the use of exogenous FSH (30, 31), which may accelerate normal follicle maturation. Taken together with the pattern of circulating inhibin A and B across the menstrual cycle, these findings suggest that under physiological conditions, there is a maturational change in the inhibin species secreted after gonadotropin stimulation, with stimulation of inhibin B by FSH during the early follicular phase and stimulation of inhibin A by both FSH and LH during the late follicular phase (LFP).

Thus, we hypothesized that the degree to which inhibin A and inhibin B decreased after partial gonadotropin withdrawal during the normal menstrual cycle would depend on the stage of follicular development. To test this hypothesis, a maximally effective dose of the Nal-Glu GnRH antagonist was administered to normal women at carefully defined stages of the menstrual cycle, which encompassed follicular development over a broad range of maturational stages. Using this model, gonadotropin regulation of inhibin A and inhibin B could be examined under normal conditions of follicular growth. Our results demonstrate that gonadotropins are required for inhibin A and inhibin B secretion and further define the differential changes in inhibin A and inhibin B secretion as a function of follicular maturation.


    Subjects and Methods
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Subjects and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
Experimental subjects

The study population consisted of 19 subjects, aged 24–42 yr (mean ± SEM, 31.3 ± 1.5), with normal thyroid hormone and PRL levels and documented normal menstrual cycles, 25–35 days in length, and with ovulation in the cycle preceding the start of the study confirmed by a progesterone (P4) level greater than 3.5 ng/mL (11 nmol/L) as previously described (1). Subjects were taking no hormonal medications for at least 3 months and used barrier contraception throughout the study. The study was approved by the subcommittee on human studies at the Massachusetts General Hospital, and all subjects gave informed consent.

Protocol

As previously described, subjects were monitored across two menstrual cycles: a control cycle and an antagonist treatment cycle (1). One subject studied during the LFP did not complete a control cycle. In the control cycle, subjects drew daily blood samples and were monitored by basal body temperatures and transvaginal ultrasounds at regular intervals to assess follicular size and endometrial thickness. Follicles greater than 10 mm from both ovaries were recorded, as was the presence of irregular follicular margins or internal echoes.

During the antagonist treatment cycle, 150 µg/kg Nal-Glu GnRH antagonist ([Ac-D2Nal1,D4ClPhe2,D3Pal3,Arg5,DGlu(AA)6,DAla10]GnRH) was administered sc at a dose previously determined to be the ED100 dose in women, resulting in greater than 80% and 40% suppression of plasma LH and FSH, respectively, for 24 h (32). The antagonist was formulated in sterile water with 5% glucose at a concentration of 10 mg/mL. The antagonist was administered at the same time on 3 consecutive days in 1) the MFP, beginning on days 5–9 of the cycle, with the onset of menses designated day 1 (n = 8); 2) the LFP, beginning on days -2 to -1 from the expected day of ovulation predicted by control cycle dynamics and serial ultrasound criteria (33) (n = 5); and 3) the midluteal phase (MLP), 5 days after the urinary LH peak (n = 5).

Assays

All daily blood samples were assayed for estradiol (E2) and P4 as described previously (34, 35). LH and FSH were analyzed by RIA (34, 35) or by a two-site monoclonal nonisotopic system (Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, IL) calibrated with the same reference preparation used in the RIA (36). LH and FSH levels were not significantly different using the two assays across a broad range of values and across the menstrual cycle within individual subjects. Linear regression and Pearson correlation performed on blood samples analyzed in both assays revealed that for LH, the least squares line slope = 1.135, intercept = -0.895, and r2 = 0.931; and for FSH, the slope = 0.961, intercept = 0.57, and r2 = 0.993. All blood samples from the control and antagonist treatment cycles for a given individual were analyzed using the same assay. The inter- and intraassay coefficients of variation were similar to those described previously (34, 35, 36). Gonadotropin levels are expressed in international units per L, as equivalents of the Second International Reference Preparation of human menopausal gonadotropin.

Inhibin A and inhibin B were measured from day -2 to day 8 relative to the first day of GnRH antagonist administration (day 0) during the MFP and LFP. Inhibin A, only, was measured around the time of antagonist administration during the MLP, because inhibin B is near the limit of detection at this time in the cycle. Inhibin A was measured by ELISA (Serotec, Oxford, UK), as previously described (18). The inhibin A assay uses a lyophilized human follicular fluid calibrator standardized as equivalents of the WHO recombinant human inhibin A preparation 91/624, and values are reported as international units per mL. The intraassay coefficient of variation for the dimeric inhibin A assay was 3.9% at the ED20 dose, and the interassay coefficient of variation was 6.8% at the ED30 dose. The assay sensitivity was 0.6 IU/mL, the value of the lowest calibrator.

Inhibin B was measured by ELISA (Serotec), as previously described (37). The limit of detection of the inhibin B assay (mean ± 2 SD of multiple zero standard measurements) was 15.6 pg/mL. The intraassay coefficient of variation was 4–6%, and the interassay coefficient of variation was 15–18% for serum spiked with 121, 250, and 723 pg/mL inhibin B. All samples with levels in excess of 500 pg/mL were appropriately diluted. All samples for a given individual were run in the same assay.

Data analysis

To evaluate the effect of GnRH antagonist administration, data were centered to the first day of antagonist injection, and the mean levels of LH, FSH, E2, P4, inhibin A, and inhibin B were calculated at baseline and at the nadir within 24 h of the last GnRH antagonist injection. Baseline and nadir values were compared using a paired t test. The percent decrease from the baseline value to the nadir was also calculated for each hormone. In subjects who received the GnRH antagonist during the follicular phase, the number of days from the last dose of the antagonist to the day of ovulation was determined, with ovulation defined using three of four of the following criteria: 1) day of the LH peak, 2) day of the FSH peak, 3) day of or day after the E2 peak, and 4) the day P4 doubled from baseline or increased to greater than 0.6 ng/mL, as described previously (38). Pearson correlation was used to associate hormone levels before antagonist administration and time to subsequent ovulation and to compare hormone levels during recovery.

All results are expressed as the mean ± SEM unless otherwise indicated. P < 0.05 was considered significant.


    Results
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Subjects and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
MFP

The GnRH antagonist was administered between days 5–9 after menses. The mean follicle diameter measured within 24 h of the first day of antagonist administration was 12 ± 1 mm (range, 8–14 mm). Additional follicles of 4–8 mm were seen in all subjects. Administration of the GnRH antagonist resulted in decreases in LH (16.1 ± 1.7 to 3.6 ± 0.6 IU/L; P < 0.001) and FSH (11.7 ± 0.5 to 8.7 ± 0.8 IU/L; P < 0.04; Figs. 1Go and 2Go). The largest follicle initially arrested in its growth and subsequently decreased in size by ultrasound criteria. The decrease in the size of the dominant follicle was accompanied by decreases in both E2 (64.9 ± 11.4 to 23.9 ± 3.3 pg/mL; P < 0.02) and inhibin B (121.6 ± 14.8 to 28.4 ± 4.8 pg/mL; P < 0.002) to near the limits of assay detection (Fig. 2Go). Mean inhibin A was at the limit of detection at this time in the cycle in five of eight subjects (0.8 ± 0.1 IU/mL; range, 0.6–1.3 IU/mL).



View larger version (41K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Figure 1. Representative subject demonstrating a 7-day delay in ovulation associated with disappearance of developing follicles on ultrasound. LH, FSH, inhibin B (Inh B), E2, and inhibin A (Inh A) levels from daily blood samples in an antagonist cycle (black circles) plotted in relation to the range (±1 SD) determined from 44 normal cycles (21 ) (shaded area).

 


View larger version (39K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Figure 2. Mean LH, FSH, inhibin B (InhB), and E2 (n = 8), surrounding GnRH antagonist administration, with the first day of administration centered to day 0. The percent decrease in hormone level is depicted in each figure. Changes in hormone levels were associated with the demise of the dominant follicle on ultrasound. Dotted lines represent the limit of detection.

 
Recovery of inhibin B occurred earlier (3.8 ± 0.6 days) than recovery of E2 (6.2 ± 1.3 days; P < 0.04; Fig. 2Go). A new follicle subsequently developed on the contralateral ovary or on both ovaries in seven of the eight subjects in whom ultrasound data were available. The follicular phase length was increased in the antagonist cycle reflecting this new follicular development (22.6 ± 1.2 vs. 13.1 ± 1.1 days; P < 0.001; Fig. 1).

LFP

The GnRH antagonist was administered on days -2 to -1 relative to anticipated ovulation, based on the control cycle and ultrasound criteria (33). Assessment of the hormone results indicated that GnRH antagonist administration was initiated on the day of the LH surge in one subject; therefore, the data from this subject were not included in the mean analysis.

The mean follicular diameter at the time of antagonist administration was 21 ± 1 mm (range, 19–21 mm). A second follicle of 9–13 mm was observed in four of the five subjects. Administration of the GnRH antagonist resulted in a decrease in LH (20.3 ± 3.7 to 7.0 ± 0.6; P < 0.02) and FSH (9.2 ± 0.9 to 6.2 ± 0.7; P < 0.005; Figs. 3Go and 4Go). The size of the dominant follicle remained stationary, as assessed by ultrasound, and all secondary follicles decreased in size. The growth arrest of the dominant follicle was accompanied by decreases in E2 (236.8 ± 48.2 to 95.6 ± 39.0 pg/mL; P < 0.02), inhibin A (4.4 ± 1.1 to 1.3 ± 0.5 IU/mL; P < 0.02), and inhibin B (84.1 ± 14.1 to 22.2 ± 3.4 pg/mL; P < 0.02; Figs. 3Go and 4Go).



View larger version (38K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Figure 3. Representative subject demonstrating a 3-day delay in ovulation associated with follicular growth arrest. LH, FSH, inhibin B (Inh B), E2, and inhibin A (Inh A) levels from daily blood samples in an antagonist cycle (black circles) plotted in relation to the normal range (shaded area).

 


View larger version (42K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Figure 4. Mean LH, FSH, inhibin B (InhB), inhibin A (InhA), and E2 surrounding GnRH antagonist administration, with the first day of administration centered on day 0. The percent decrease in the hormone level is depicted in each figure. Changes in hormone levels were associated with growth arrest of the dominant follicle on ultrasound. Dotted lines represent the limit of detection.

 
Ovulation occurred from the same ovary in three subjects and from the contralateral ovary in one subject in whom the inhibin A level on the first day of antagonist administration was lowest (Table 1Go). In an additional subject, the dominant follicle remained static for 13 days, E2 increased, and a LH surge occurred with a subsequent rise in P4. The length of the follicular phase increased from 12.5 ± 3.2 to 20.5 ± 3.1 days (P < 0.02; Fig. 3Go). E2 and inhibin A, but not inhibin B, were highly correlated (r = 0.65; P < 0.0001) and also correlated with LH during recovery after the last dose of the GnRH antagonist (r = 0.64 and P < 0.0001 for E2; r = 0.63 and P < 0.0001 for inhibin A) during the LFP. E2 (r = -0.79; P < 0.003) and inhibin A (r = -0.67; P < 0.02) immediately before the first GnRH antagonist administration correlated with time to subsequent ovulation during the MFP and LFP. There was no correlation between inhibin B and time to subsequent ovulation.


View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Table 1. Inhibin A and E2 levels in subjects treated with the Nal-Glu GnRH antagonist during the late follicular phase

 
MLP

The GnRH antagonist was administered 4 or 5 days after ovulation, and a corpus luteum was demonstrated by ultrasound in all subjects before antagonist administration. Administration of the GnRH antagonist resulted in significant decreases in LH (12.9 ± 3.9 to 1.1 ± 0.1 IU/L; P < 0.05) and FSH (6.4 ± 0.6 to 3.9 ± 0.5 IU/L; P < 0.005; Figs. 5Go and 6Go). Decreased gonadotropin levels resulted in significant decreases in E2 (150.4 ± 22.9 to 23.8 ± 4.2 pg/mL; P < 0.005), P4 (12.6 ± 2.6 to 0.9 ± 0.2 ng/mL; P < 0.01), and inhibin A (9.0 ± 0.4 to 0.7 ± 0.1 IU/mL; P < 0.0001; Figs. 5Go and 6Go).



View larger version (40K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Figure 5. Representative subject demonstrating complete luteolysis. LH, FSH, inhibin A (Inh A), E2, and P4 levels from daily blood samples in an antagonist cycle (black circles) plotted in relation to the normal range (shaded area).

 


View larger version (47K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Figure 6. Mean LH, FSH, inhibin A (InhA), E2, and P4 surrounding GnRH antagonist administration, with the first day of administration centered to day 0. Changes in hormone levels were associated with demise of the corpus luteum on ultrasound. Dotted lines represent the limit of detection.

 
The onset of menses occurred in all subjects within 24 h after the last GnRH antagonist administration. The luteal phase was decreased in length from 14.0 ± 0.7 to 7.2 ± 0.2 days (P < 0.001; Fig. 5Go). Interestingly, in the LFP subject to whom GnRH antagonist was administered on the day of the LH surge, E2, inhibin A, and inhibin B decreased to baseline, and the onset of vaginal bleeding occurred (data not shown), attesting to the importance of LH in formation of the corpus luteum.


    Discussion
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Subjects and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
The GnRH antagonist provides a unique means to examine gonadotropin regulation of the inhibins because it can be administered at precise stages of physiological follicular development. Previous studies have directly demonstrated FSH-dependent inhibin A (30) and inhibin B (22, 30) secretion by developing follicles in the early follicular phase. However, the gonadotropin dependence of dimeric inhibin A and inhibin B at later stages of follicle maturation has been evaluated only in subjects undergoing ovarian hyperstimulation (31), in which the natural progression of follicle development is altered. Using a maximally effective dose of the Nal-Glu GnRH antagonist (32), we have now determined that dimeric inhibin B and inhibin A exhibit dependence on gonadotropin stimulation that is specific to the stage of follicle development.

Previous studies using assays directed at the {alpha}-subunit of inhibin (39) demonstrate that inhibin levels are significantly decreased by gonadotropin withdrawal secondary to GnRH antagonist administration during the MFP (40) and the MLP in humans (6, 7). Using specific assays for dimeric inhibin, the current data suggest that inhibin B in the MFP and inhibin A during the MLP were the predominant species measured in previous studies. At these respective cycle stages, both inhibin A and B levels in serum decrease to the limits of detection after GnRH antagonist administration, suggesting a profound sensitivity to gonadotropin withdrawal. During the MFP, the decrease in inhibin occurs concomitant with the disappearance of follicular structures as determined by ultrasound (1, 3). During the MLP, the decrease in inhibin occurs with suppression of E2 and P4 to baseline in both humans (1, 2, 3, 6, 7) and primates (4, 5, 41), consistent with demise of the corpus luteum. In contrast, GnRH antagonist administration during the LFP results in growth arrest of the dominant follicle in the majority of subjects (1, 3, 8, 9). Inhibin A and inhibin B are suppressed to an equivalent percentage from baseline despite the absence of a change in the size of the dominant follicle. These LFP findings provide support for gonadotropin stimulation not only of inhibin A, as expected from the pattern of inhibin A secretion (18, 19), but also of inhibin B across the menstrual cycle.

Evidence that inhibin B is secreted by the cohort of developing follicles recruited in the late luteal phase of the menstrual cycle comes from the predominant ßB mRNA expression in small antral follicles (16), the pattern of inhibin B secretion across the luteal-follicular transition (20, 22), and the close association between the inhibin B rise and follicular development across the luteal-follicular transition (22). In the current study, inhibin B and E2 decrease to their nadirs, with demise of developing follicles after administration of the GnRH antagonist during the MFP. Subsequent to the last dose of GnRH antagonist, a new group of follicles is recruited, and inhibin B levels return to the preantagonist baseline sooner than E2. These results provide evidence that inhibin B secretion serves as the earliest index of gonadotropin-dependent growth of immature follicles consistent with findings in our previous studies using a GnRH-deficient model (22).

In contrast to both E2 and inhibin B, inhibin A was not above the limit of detection in five of eight subjects during the MFP and was only minimally elevated in the rest. In both groups of subjects, follicles ranged from 7–14 mm; thus, these findings are consistent with previous studies in which inhibin A was not detected above assay limits until follicles reached 14 mm (21). Inhibin A was clearly increased in all subjects studied during the LFP when follicles were 19–21 mm in size, confirming that inhibin A is a relatively late product of follicular maturation. An inverse correlation between inhibin A levels just before GnRH antagonist administration and time to subsequent ovulation was seen across the follicular phase as previously reported for E2 (8, 40, 42), suggesting that, like E2, inhibin A serves as an index of an increasingly gonadotropin-independent, preovulatory follicle. Further, inhibin A, but not E2, levels were highest in the four subjects who experienced growth arrest of the dominant follicle during LFP phase administration of the GnRH antagonist and were lowest in the subject with follicular demise. Thus, inhibin A may be a better marker of follicular maturity than E2.

The secretion of inhibin B during the LFP may be attributed to secretion by either the nondominant follicles or the dominant follicle. In vitro data regarding the source of inhibin B during the LFP are conflicting. One study demonstrated inhibin B protein in a preovulatory follicle (15), whereas a second was unable to demonstrate ßB-subunit mRNA or inhibin B protein (16). Evidence for inhibin B secretion from the dominant follicle comes from the correlation between serum and follicular fluid inhibin B levels in in vitro fertilization cycles (43). The similar suppression of inhibin B and inhibin A after GnRH antagonist administration and recovery after a similar interval also suggest inhibin B production by the dominant follicle. However, there was no correlation between the rise in inhibin A and inhibin B, or E2 and inhibin B during recovery. Further, there was no correlation between inhibin B levels and time to ovulation. Taken together, these results indicate that although some inhibin B may be secreted by the dominant follicle, it may not be the only source of inhibin B during the LFP. Other inhibin B sources include nondominant follicles or thecal cells, although the absence of ßB-subunit mRNA in thecal cells makes this less likely (16). Alternatively, the production or clearance of inhibin B may be different from that of inhibin A at this cycle stage.

Granulosa cell cultures have been used to dissect the relative contributions of LH and FSH to dimeric inhibin stimulation. In vitro studies in the nonhuman primate and the human indicate that FSH stimulates inhibin secretion from small follicles (<10 mm) (28, 29), consistent with in vivo studies that demonstrate a critical FSH stimulatory role for inhibin B in the early follicular phase of the cycle (22, 30). Both LH and FSH stimulate inhibin secretion from medium follicles (10–15 mm) similar in size to the predominantly inhibin B secreting follicles during the MFP in the current study. LH is the major factor stimulating inhibin secretion from dominant follicles (>15 mm) (28, 29) found during the LFP. Luteinized granulosa cells obtained from subjects undergoing exogenous gonadotropin and hCG stimulation for in vitro fertilization demonstrate that both LH and FSH stimulate inhibin A expression and secretion (44, 45), but are less consistent regulators of inhibin B (45). Similarly, although the fall in inhibin and P4 after GnRH antagonist administration in the luteal phase can be reversed with hCG administration in nonhuman primates (46) and humans (6) confirming that LH is the most important gonadotropin stimulatory factor for the corpus luteum, FSH has been demonstrated to stimulate inhibin secretion during the luteal phase (47). The GnRH antagonist model used in the current study is limited by the inability to distinguish regulation of inhibin A and inhibin B secretion by LH vs. FSH. However, the correlation between LH, and inhibin A and E2 during recovery after GnRH antagonist administration during the MFP and LFP suggests that LH is the primary stimulating factor for inhibin A and E2 in mature follicles. Taken together, these studies suggest that both FSH and LH can stimulate the secretion of inhibin B and inhibin A, but that the stimulatory and secretory capability is dependent on the maturational stage of the follicle.

Administration of a GnRH antagonist at precise stages of the menstrual cycle provides further evidence that differential regulation of inhibin A and inhibin B is critically dependent on the stage of follicular development. Inhibin B secretion is exquisitely sensitive to gonadotropin withdrawal during the MFP when inhibin A has not yet risen. Inhibin A and inhibin B decrease equally after gonadotropin withdrawal during the LFP. However, the positive correlation between E2 and inhibin A before antagonist administration and time to ovulation and the lack of such a correlation with inhibin B suggest that the source of inhibin B is different from that of inhibin A and E2. The decrease in inhibin A secretion after antagonist administration in the luteal phase confirms gonadotropin-dependent secretion of dimeric inhibin A by the corpus luteum.


    Footnotes
 
1 This work was supported by NIH Grants U54-HD-29164, M01-RR-01066, and P30-HD-28138. The Nal-Glu GnRH antagonist was synthesized at The Salk Institute, under Contract N01-HD-02906 with the NIH and was made available by the Contraceptive Development Branch, Center for Population Research, NICHHD. Back

Received December 30, 1998.

Revised February 17, 1999.

Revised March 2, 1999.

Accepted March 8, 1999.


    References
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Subjects and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 

  1. Hall JE, Bhatta N, Adams JM, Rivier JE, Vale WW, Crowley Jr WF. 1991 Variable tolerance of the developing follicle and corpus luteum to gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist-induced gonadotropin withdrawal in the human. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 72:993–1000.[Abstract]
  2. Mais V, Kazer RR, Cetel NS, Rivier J, Vale W, Yen SSC. 1986 The dependency of folliculogenesis and corpus luteum function on pulsatile gonadotropin secretion in cycling women using a gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist as a probe. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 62:1250–1255.[Abstract]
  3. Fluker MR, Marshall LA, Monroe SE, Jaffe RB. 1991 Variable ovarian response to gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist-induced gonadotropin deprivation during different phases of the menstrual cycle. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 72:912–919.[Abstract]
  4. Fraser HM, Baird DT, McRae GI, Nestor JJ, Vickery BH. 1985 Suppression of luteal progesterone secretion in the stumptailed macaque by an antagonist analogue of luteinizing hormone releasing hormone. J Endocrinol. 104:R1–R4.
  5. Collins RL, Sopelak VM, Williams RF, Hodgen GD. 1986 Prevention of gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist induced luteal regression by concurrent exogenous pulsatile gonadotropin administration in monkeys. Fertil Steril. 46:945–953.[Medline]
  6. McLachlan RI, Cohen NL, Vale WW, et al. 1989 The importance of luteinizing hormone in the control of inhibin and progesterone secretion by the human corpus luteum. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 68:1078–1085.[Abstract]
  7. Roseff SJ, Bangah ML, Kettel LM, et al. 1989 Dynamic changes in circulating inhibin levels during the luteal-follicular transition of the human menstrual cycle. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 69:1033–1039.[Abstract]
  8. Ditkoff EC, Cassidenti DL, Paulson RJ, et al. 1991 The gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist (Nal-Glu) acutely blocks the luteinizing hormone surge but allows for resumption of folliculogenesis in normal women. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 165:1811–1817.[Medline]
  9. Dubourdieu S, Charbonnel B, D’Acremont MF, Carreau S, Spitz IM, Bouchard P. 1994 Effect of administration of a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist (Nal-Glu) during the periovulatory period: the luteinizing hormone surge requires secretion of GnRH. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 78:343–347.[Abstract]
  10. Meunier H, Cajander SB, Roberts VJ, et al. 1988 Rapid changes in the expression of inhibin, {alpha}-, ßA- and ßB-subunits in ovarian cell types during the rat estrous cycle. Mol Endocrinol. 2:1352–1363.[Abstract]
  11. Woodruff TK, D’Agostino J, Schwartz NB, Mayo KE. 1988 Dynamic changes in inhibin messenger RNAs in rat ovarian follicles during the reproductive cycle. Science. 239:1296–1299.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  12. Engelhardt H, Smith KB, McNeilly AS, Baird DT. 1993 Expression of messenger ribonucleic acid for inhibin subunits and ovarian secretion of inhibin and estradiol at various stages of the sheep estrous cycle. Biol Reprod. 49:281–294.[Abstract]
  13. Schwall RH, Mason AJ, Wilcox JN, Bassett SG, Zeleznik AJ. 1990 Localization of inhibin/activin subunit mRNAs within the primate ovary. Mol Endocrinol. 4:75–79.[Abstract]
  14. Davis SR, Krozowski Z, McLachlan RI, Burger HG. 1987 Inhibin gene expression in the corpus luteum. J Endocrinol. 115:R21–R23.
  15. Yamoto M, Minami S, Nakano R, Kobayashi M. 1992 Immunohistochemical localization of inhibin/activin subunits in human ovarian follicles during the menstrual cycle. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 74:989–993.[Abstract]
  16. Roberts VJ, Barth S, El-Roeiy A, Yen SSC. 1993 Expression of inhibin/activin subunits and follistatin messenger ribonucleic acids and proteins in ovarian follicles and the corpus luteum during the human menstrual cycle. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 77:1402–1410.[Abstract]
  17. Findlay JK. 1993 An update on the roles of inhibin, activin and follistatin as local regulators of folliculogenesis. Biol Reprod. 48:15–23.[Abstract]
  18. Lambert-Messerlian GM, Hall JE, Sluss PM, et al. 1994 Relatively low levels of dimeric inhibin circulate in men and women with polycystic ovarian syndrome using a specific two-site enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 79:45–50.[Abstract]
  19. Groome NP, Illingworth PJ, O’Brien M, et al. 1994 Detection of dimeric inhibin throughout the human menstrual cycle by two-site enzyme immunoassay. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 40:717–723.[Medline]
  20. Groome NP, Illingworth PJ, O’Brien M, et al. 1996 Measurement of dimeric inhibin B throughout the human menstrual cycle. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 81:1401–1405.[Abstract]
  21. Welt CK, McNicholl D, Taylor AE, Hall JE. 1999 Female reproductive aging is marked by decreased secretion of dimeric inhibin. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 84:105–111.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  22. Welt C, Martin KA, Taylor AE, et al. 1997 Frequency modulation of FSH during the luteal-follicular transition: evidence for FSH control of inhibin B in normal women. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 82:2645–2652.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  23. LaPolt PS, Piquette GN, Soto D, Sincich C, Hsueh AJW. 1990 Regulation of inhibin subunit messenger ribonucleic acid levels by gonadotropins, growth factors, and gonadotropin-releasing hormone in cultured rat granulosa cells. Endocrinology. 127:823–831.[Abstract]
  24. Turner IM, Saunders PTK, Hillier SG. 1989 Regulation of inhibin subunit gene expression by FSH and estradiol in cultured rat granulosa cells. Endocrinology. 125:2790–2792.[Abstract]
  25. Aloi JA, Dalkin AC, Schwartz NB, et al. 1995 Ovarian inhibin subunit gene expression: regulation by gonadotropins and estradiol. Endocrinology. 136:1227–1232.[Abstract]
  26. Bicsak TA, Tucker EM, Cappel S, et al. 1986 Hormonal regulation of granulosa cell inhibin biosynthesis. Endocrinology. 119:2711–2719.[Abstract]
  27. Zhang Z, Lee VWK, Carson RS, Burger HG. 1988 Selective control of rat granulosa cell inhibin production by FSH and LH in vitro. Mol Cell Endocrinol. 56:35–40.[CrossRef][Medline]
  28. Hillier SG, Wickings EJ, Saunders PTK, et al. 1989 Control of inhibin production by primate granulosa cells. J Endocrinol. 123:65–73.[Abstract]
  29. Hillier SG, Wickings EJ, Illingworth PI, et al. 1991 Control of immunoactive inhibin production by human granulosa cells. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 35:71–78.[Medline]
  30. Burger HG, Groome NP, Robertson DM. 1998 Both inhibin A and B respond to exogenous follicle-stimulating hormone in the follicular phase of the human menstrual cycle. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 83:4167–4169.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  31. Lockwood GM, Muttukrishna S, Groome NP, Knight PG, Ledger WL. 1996 Circulating inhibins and activin A during GnRH-analogue down-regulation and ovarian hyperstimulation with recombinant FSH for in-vitro fertilization-embryo transfer. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 45:741–748.[CrossRef][Medline]
  32. Hall JE, Whitcomb RW, Rivier JE, Vale WW, Crowley Jr WF. 1990 Differential regulation of LH, FSH, and free {alpha}-subunit secretion from the gonadotrope by GnRH: evidence from the use of two GnRH antagonists. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 70:328–335.[Abstract]
  33. Adams JM, Tan SL, Wheeler MJ, Morris DV, Jacobs HS, Franks S. 1988 Uterine growth in the follicular phase of spontaneous ovulatory cycles and during luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone-induced cycles in women with normal or polycystic ovaries. Fertil Steril. 49:52–55.[Medline]
  34. Filicori M, Butler JP, Crowley Jr WF. 1984 Neuroendocrine regulation of the corpus luteum in the human. J Clin Invest. 73:1638–1647.
  35. Crowley Jr WF, Beitins IZ, Vale W, et al. 1980 The biologic activity of a potent analogue of gonadotropin releasing hormone in normal and hypogonadotropic men. N Engl J Med. 302:1052–1057.[Abstract]
  36. Taylor AE, Khoury RH, Crowley Jr WF. 1994 A comparison of 13 different immunometric assay kits for gonadotropins: implications for clinical investigation. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 79:240–247.[Abstract]
  37. Seminara SB, Boepple PA, Nachtigall LB, et al. 1996 Inhibin B in males with gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) deficiency: changes in serum concentration after short term physiologic GnRH replacement. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 81:3692–3696.[Abstract]
  38. Filicori M, Santoro N, Merriam GR, Crowley Jr WF. 1986 Characterization of the physiological pattern of episodic gonadotropin secretion throughout the human menstrual cycle. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 62:1136–1144.[Abstract]
  39. Schneyer A, Mason A, Burton L, Ziegner J, Crowley Jr WF. 1990 Immunoreactive inhibin {alpha}-subunit in human serum. Implications for radioimmunoassay. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 70:1208–1212.[Abstract]
  40. Kettel LM, Roseff SJ, Chiu TC, et al. 1991 Follicular arrest during the midfollicular phase of the menstrual cycle: a gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist imposed follicular-follicular transition. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 73:644–649.[Abstract]
  41. Fraser HM, Robertson DM, DeKretser DM. 1989 Immunoreactive inhibin concentrations in serum throughout the menstrual cycle of the macaque: suppression of inhibin during the luteal phase after treatment with an LHRH antagonist. J Endocrinol. 121:R9–R12.
  42. Hall JE, Crowley Jr WF. 1992 Use of GnRH antagonists as physiologic probes in the female. In: Conn PM, Crowley Jr WF, eds. Modes of action of GnRH and GnRH antagonists. New York: Springer-Verlag; 310–321.
  43. Hall JE, Welt CK, Cramer DW. 1998 Inhibin A and inhibin B reflect ovarian function in assisted reproduction but are less useful at predicting outcome. Hum Reprod. 14:409–415.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  44. Eramaa M, Tuuri T, Hilden K, Ritvos O. 1994 Regulation of inhibin {alpha}- and ßA-subunit messenger ribonucleic acid levels by chorionic gonadotropin and recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone in cultured human granulosa-luteal cells. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 79:1670–1677.[Abstract]
  45. Muttukrishna S, Groome N, Ledger W. 1997 Gonadotropic control of secretion of dimeric inhibins and activin A by human granulosa-luteal cells in vitro. J Assisted Reprod Gen. 14:566–574.
  46. Smith KB, Fraser HM. 1990 Control of progesterone and inhibin secretion during the luteal phase in the macaque. J Endocrinol. 128:107–113.
  47. Burger H, Hee J, Bangah M, et al. 1996 Effects of serum FSH on serum immunoreactive inhibin levels in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 45:431–434.[CrossRef][Medline]



This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
Hum ReprodHome page
M. E. Kevenaar, A. P.N. Themmen, J. S.E. Laven, B. Sonntag, S. L. Fong, A. G. Uitterlinden, F. H. de Jong, H. A.P. Pols, M. Simoni, and J. A. Visser
Anti-Mullerian hormone and anti-Mullerian hormone type II receptor polymorphisms are associated with follicular phase estradiol levels in normo-ovulatory women
Hum. Reprod., June 1, 2007; 22(6): 1547 - 1554.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
EndocrinologyHome page
Y. Makanji, C. A. Harrison, P. G. Stanton, R. Krishna, and D. M. Robertson
Inhibin A and B in Vitro Bioactivities Are Modified by Their Degree of Glycosylation and Their Affinities to Betaglycan
Endocrinology, May 1, 2007; 148(5): 2309 - 2316.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
C. K. Welt, J. A. Gudmundsson, G. Arason, J. Adams, H. Palsdottir, G. Gudlaugsdottir, G. Ingadottir, and W. F. Crowley
Characterizing Discrete Subsets of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome as Defined by the Rotterdam Criteria: The Impact of Weight on Phenotype and Metabolic Features
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., December 1, 2006; 91(12): 4842 - 4848.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
C. K. Welt, G. Arason, J. A. Gudmundsson, J. Adams, H. Palsdottir, G. Gudlaugsdottir, G. Ingadottir, and W. F. Crowley
Defining Constant Versus Variable Phenotypic Features of Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Using Different Ethnic Groups and Populations
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., November 1, 2006; 91(11): 4361 - 4368.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
D. S. Wachs, M. S. Coffler, P. J. Malcom, and R. J. Chang
Comparison of Follicle-Stimulating-Hormone-Stimulated Dimeric Inhibin and Estradiol Responses as Indicators of Granulosa Cell Function in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and Normal Women
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., August 1, 2006; 91(8): 2920 - 2925.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Hum ReprodHome page
C.K. Welt, Y. Jimenez, P.M. Sluss, P.C. Smith, and J.E. Hall
Control of estradiol secretion in reproductive ageing
Hum. Reprod., August 1, 2006; 21(8): 2189 - 2193.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Endocr. Rev.Home page
N. S. Macklon, R. L. Stouffer, L. C. Giudice, and B. C. J. M. Fauser
The Science behind 25 Years of Ovarian Stimulation for in Vitro Fertilization
Endocr. Rev., April 1, 2006; 27(2): 170 - 207.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
Y. L. Pagan, S. S. Srouji, Y. Jimenez, A. Emerson, S. Gill, and J. E. Hall
Inverse Relationship between Luteinizing Hormone and Body Mass Index in Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome: Investigation of Hypothalamic and Pituitary Contributions
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., April 1, 2006; 91(4): 1309 - 1316.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
C. K. Welt, A. E. Taylor, J. Fox, G. M. Messerlian, J. M. Adams, and A. L. Schneyer
Follicular Arrest in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Is Associated with Deficient Inhibin A and B Biosynthesis
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., October 1, 2005; 90(10): 5582 - 5587.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Biol. Reprod.Home page
Y. Wang, H. Newton, J. A. Spaliviero, C. M. Allan, B. Marshan, D. J. Handelsman, and P. J. Illingworth
Gonadotropin Control of Inhibin Secretion and the Relationship to Follicle Type and Number in the hpg Mouse
Biol Reprod, October 1, 2005; 73(4): 610 - 618.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
C. K. Welt, A. Falorni, A. E. Taylor, K. A. Martin, and J. E. Hall
Selective Theca Cell Dysfunction in Autoimmune Oophoritis Results in Multifollicular Development, Decreased Estradiol, and Elevated Inhibin B Levels
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., May 1, 2005; 90(5): 3069 - 3076.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
C. K. Welt, P. C. Smith, and A. E. Taylor
Evidence of Early Ovarian Aging in Fragile X Premutation Carriers
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., September 1, 2004; 89(9): 4569 - 4574.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
C. K. Welt, Y. L. Pagan, P. C. Smith, K. B. Rado, and J. E. Hall
Control of Follicle-Stimulating Hormone by Estradiol and the Inhibins: Critical Role of Estradiol at the Hypothalamus during the Luteal-Follicular Transition
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., April 1, 2003; 88(4): 1766 - 1771.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Hum ReprodHome page
G.J. Scheffer, F.J.M. Broekmans, C.W.N. Looman, M. Blankenstein, B.C.J.M. Fauser, F.H. de Jong, and E.R. te Velde
The number of antral follicles in normal women with proven fertility is the best reflection of reproductive age
Hum. Reprod., April 1, 2003; 18(4): 700 - 706.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
N. A. Klein, A. J. Harper, B. S. Houmard, P. M. Sluss, and M. R. Soules
Is the Short Follicular Phase in Older Women Secondary to Advanced or Accelerated Dominant Follicle Development?
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., December 1, 2002; 87(12): 5746 - 5750.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Exp. Biol. Med.Home page
C. Welt, Y. Sidis, H. Keutmann, and A. Schneyer
Activins, Inhibins, and Follistatins: From Endocrinology to Signaling. A Paradigm for the New Millennium
Experimental Biology and Medicine, October 1, 2002; 227(9): 724 - 752.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Hum ReprodHome page
M. Fawzy, A. Lambert, R.F. Harrison, P.G. Knight, N. Groome, B. Hennelly, and W.R. Robertson
Day 5 inhibin B levels in a treatment cycle are predictive of IVF outcome
Hum. Reprod., June 1, 2002; 17(6): 1535 - 1543.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
S. Gill, J. L. Sharpless, K. Rado, and J. E. Hall
Evidence That GnRH Decreases with Gonadal Steroid Feedback but Increases with Age in Postmenopausal Women
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., May 1, 2002; 87(5): 2290 - 2296.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
S. Gill, H. B. Lavoie, Y. Bo-Abbas, and J. E. Hall
Negative Feedback Effects of Gonadal Steroids Are Preserved with Aging in Postmenopausal Women
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., May 1, 2002; 87(5): 2297 - 2302.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Hum ReprodHome page
R. B. Barnes, A. B. Namnoum, R. L. Rosenfield, and L. C. Layman
The role of LH and FSH in ovarian androgen secretion and ovarian follicular development: Clinical studies in a patient with isolated FSH deficiency and multicystic ovaries: Case report
Hum. Reprod., January 1, 2002; 17(1): 88 - 91.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Hum ReprodHome page
P. A. Fowler, T. Sorsa, W. J. Harris, P. G. Knight, and H. D. Mason
Relationship between follicle size and gonadotrophin surge attenuating factor (GnSAF) bioactivity during spontaneous cycles in women
Hum. Reprod., July 1, 2001; 16(7): 1353 - 1358.
[Abstract]