Serum Inhibin is Inversely Correlated with Serum Fsh Levels in Adult Men

Abstract

Serum inhibin, FSH, and testosterone levels were measured by radioimmunoassay in 36 normal human males, aged 8 to 63 years. Inhibin and FSH levels rose during 8 to 17 years to reach adult values. At these ages there is a significant direct linear correlation between serum FSH and inhibin levels (r = 0.81, p less than 0.01), whereas in adulthood the relationship between serum FSH and inhibin levels was significant inverse (r = -0.70, p less than 0.01). No correlation was found between serum testosterone and FSH (r = -0.18, p:NS) or between serum testosterone and inhibin (r = 0.14, p:NS). In senescence there is a significant decrease in the serum inhibin levels (r = -0.53, p less than 0.05). These findings suggest that negative feedback is established once serum inhibin has reached adult values, and that in physiologic conditions inhibin plays a greater role than testosterone in the negative feedback regulation of FSH.