THE MATERNAL OVARY IS NOT THE SOURCE OF CIRCULATING INHIBIN LEVELS DURING HUMAN PREGNANCY

The concentration of immunoreactive inhibin in serum was measured in three pregnant women with premature ovarian failure involved in a donor oocyte in-vitro fertilization programme. Inhibin was not detectable in peripheral serum prior to conception but rose within 2-4 weeks of embryo transfer, whereafter levels rose gradually during pregnancy (less than 20 weeks 1.22 U/ml (0.85-1.76) versus greater than 20 weeks 2.28 U/ml (1.42-3.67), P less than 0.01; geometric mean +/- 67% confidence interval) and were similar to those observed in 24 normal pregnant women. hCG rose in parallel with inhibin during early gestation, but declined after 3 months. FSH levels were elevated before conception and were suppressed during pregnancy. In conclusion (i) immunoreactive inhibin is detectable from early gestation in women with no endogenous ovarian function indicating that the maternal ovary does not contribute significantly to inhibin secretion during pregnancy; (ii) the trophoblast is the likely source of inhibin during pregnancy; (iii) the regulation of hCG and inhibin secretion differs throughout gestation; and (iv) inhibin may have a role in FSH regulation during pregnancy and/or a local role within the feto-placental unit.