1. Hormone: Inhibin Gland/Location: Gonads (testes or ovaries depending on sex) Chemical Class: Protein By: Sidharth Bedi INHIBIN:

2. General info: Helps regulates reproduction process; embryonic and fetal development. Two types: inhibin A and inhibin B The difference: Inhibin B directly relates to a women’s ovarian reserve. Where as in males it strongly relates to testicular volume and sperm count. Inhibin A does not do much in a male, however it plays a vital role in a pregnant female.

3. Function: Target: Inhibin is secreted by the gonads to inhibit the production of follicle-stimulation hormone (FSH) by the pituitary gland. FSH is used by the body to regulate gametogenesis (in men it stimulates sperm production, in women, it stimulates egg production and plays a role in the menstrual cycle) Cause/source: it is secreted as a negative feedback to FSH levels.

4. Role in body: As its name suggests, it inhibits production of FSH. Too much (hyper): too much Inhibin A in a pregnant female may result in down syndrome for the child. This is tested for in clinics Too little (hypo): Too little Inhibin B could be a sign of infertility for female as in inhibin levels relate to the amount of eggs. In men, a low Inhibin B count also results in infertility, because Inhibin B directly relates to sperm production Analogy: the name is “Inhibin” so it “inhibits”, in both men and women, inhibin inhibits.

5. Bib: Klingmuller, D., and G. Haidl. "Inhibin B in Men with Normal and Disturbed Spermatogenesis." Inhibin B in Men with Normal and Disturbed Spermatogenesis 11th ser. 12.2376-2378 (1997): 1-3. Oxfordjournals.org. European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology. Web. 20 Feb. 2012.. "Day 3 Inhibin Test to Determine Fertility." Inhibin B : Test to Determine Fertility in Fertility Center. Malpani Infertility Clinic. Web. 20 Feb. 2012.. "Hormone Inhibin A." WebMD. WebMD, 03 Jan. 0000. Web. 20 Feb. 2012.. FSH Abnormality." Medscape. WebMD LLC, 3 Jan. 2012. Web. 20 Feb. 2012.. Smith, S.E., and O. Wallace. "What Is Inhibin?" WiseGeek. Conjecture. Web. 20 Feb. 2012.. "MedicineNet.com." MedicineNet.com. 7 Mar. 2003. Web. 20 Feb. 2012..