TGF-beta Family Members and Gonadal Development.
Several members of the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) family are involved in gonadal development; namely, TGF-beta itself, inhibins, activins, anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and GDF-9. These proteins do not affect initial gonadal organogenesis but play either a stimulatory or inhibitory role in the division and differentiation of gonadal cells and in meiotic maturation in the female. Furthermore, as shown by transgenic mouse technology, both AMH and inhibin act as tumor suppressors.
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Unité de Recherches sur l'Endocrinologie du Développement (INSERM), Ecole Normale Supérieure, Département de Biologie, 1 rue Maurice-Arnoux, 92120 Montrouge, France.
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