Inhibin, alpha (C6H12), MMab
Inhibins and activins are members of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-B) family of cytokines. lnhibins areheterodimers consisting of a common alpha subunit linked to either a beta A subunit (a-BA, forming inhibin A) or abeta B subunit (a-BB, forming inhibin B). Activins share the beta subunits with inhibins and may be eitheinomodimers or heterodimers of these beta subunits, forming activin A (BA-BA), activin AB (BA-8B). or activin B (BB.BB). The expression of the alpha subunit and inhibins is more restricted compared to that of the beta subunits andactivins. lnhibins and activins play a role in regulating, pituitary follicle-stimulating hormone (fSH) secretion, withopposing effects: inhibins suppress fSH secretion, while activins stimulate it. lnhibins are secreted by ovariangranulosa cells in females and'testicular Sertoli cells in males. Beyond the ovaries, inhibins exert local regulatoryfunctions in various tissues, including the brain, adrenal glands, bone marrow, fetus, and placenta.