title: Comparison of serum FSH and Inhibin B levels between adult male dizygotic and monozygotic twins.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  FSH hypersecretion occurs in mothers of dizygotic (DZ) twins. Twinning is inherited via both sexes and transmitted through the female. FSH hypersecretion may thus occur in male DZ twins.
  
  
  METHODS
  We assayed FSH and its counter-regulatory hormone, Inhibin B, in 108 adult male DZ and 100 monozygotic (MZ) twins (as controls) and compared our results to published norms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Inhibin B was elevated and higher in DZ compared with MZ twins with similar FSH.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The normal FSH: Inhibin B endocrine feedback axis is different in adult male DZ twins. This contributes to the theory that the answer to human DZ twinning lies in the actions of FSH and Inhibin, and in their mutual interaction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Health, Royal Free and University College Medical School, NW3 2PF, London. a.sutcliffe@medsch.ucl.ac.uk
authors.forename: Alastair
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sutcliffe
authors.forename: Helen A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Spoudeas
authors.forename: Devaki
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nair
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bouloux
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Oliver
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sambrook
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bannister
authors.forename: Cornelis B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Lambalk
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Spector
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007265:Inhibins / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014429:Twins, Dizygotic / Q000097:blood*; D014430:Twins, Monozygotic / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: C422364:inhibin B; D007265:Inhibins; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone