Inhibin as a fecundity vaccine

Abstract

Inhibin acts as a negative feedback regulator of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), therefore, attenuation of its biological activity through immunisation should lead to an increase in the circulating concentrations of FSH. In turn, this should result in increased ovulation rates and a consequent increase in litter size. In this article, we review work on the structure and function of inhibin which ultimately led to the development of inhibin-based fecundity vaccines. These vaccines have been shown to cause increases in ovulation rate and litter size in sheep and increases in ovulation rate in cattle and pigs. The data establish a basis for using inhibin vaccines to increase fecundity in animals of economic importance.