title: [Advances on inhibin genes].
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and Technology, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu 030 801, China. xueyu7908@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.forename: Ming-Xing
authors.initials: MX
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: Zhong-Xiao
authors.initials: ZX
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007265:Inhibins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D008098:Litter Size / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D016649:Primary Ovarian Insufficiency / Q000235:genetics; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D012098:Reproduction / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D007265:Inhibins