Serum inhibin A, inhibin B, and pro-αC levels are altered after surgically or pharmacologically induced menopause

Cobellis L, Luigi Cobellis, Stefano Luisi, Ilaria Pezzani, Pezzani I, Fernando M. Reis, Vincenzo De Leo, Felice Petraglia
Fertility and sterility · 2002 · vol. 77(4) , pp. 745–749 · doi:10.1016/s0015-0282(01)03234-4 · PMID:11937127 · W2155302252
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Abstract

ObjectiveTo evaluate the course of changes in serum inhibin A, inhibin B, and pro-alphaC levels in women with surgically or pharmacologically induced menopause.DesignLongitudinal study.SettingAcademic Health Center of Siena, Siena, Italy.Patient(s)Four groups of women were studied: [1] surgical menopause including bilateral oophorectomy (n = 15), [2] amenorrhea induced by GnRH-analogue for treatment of endometriosis (n = 13), [3] amenorrhea induced by antineoplastic chemotherapy before (n = 15) and after chemotherapy (n = 13), and [4] control physiological menopause (n = 67).Intervention(s)Collection of blood specimens.Main outcome measure(s)Serum inhibin A, inhibin B, and pro-alphaC concentrations were measured by using specific two-site ELISAs.Result(s)Following oophorectomy, serum inhibin A, inhibin B, and pro-alphaC levels were decreased on the first postoperative day; on the fifth postoperative day they were still significantly reduced. Women with amenorrhea induced by GnRH-analogue treatment exhibited serum inhibin A and pro-alphaC levels that were significantly higher than those observed in physiological menopause. Patients undergoing antineoplastic chemotherapy had higher serum inhibin A levels than those in physiological menopause, whereas inhibin B and pro-alphaC levels did not differ. During the course of chemotherapy, median serum inhibin A concentrations were similar to those of patients evaluated after the suspension of treatment. In postmenopause, inhibin A, and inhibin B levels were low, whereas levels of pro-alphaC were still detectable.Conclusion(s)Circulating levels of inhibin A, inhibin B, and pro-alphaC are reduced after oophorectomy. Women with amenorrhea induced by GnRH-analogue treatment or by antineoplastic chemotherapy still produce inhibin A and pro-alphaC. This probably reflects a residual ovarian function and hormone synthesis. Therefore, the ovary may be a source of pro-alphaC after menopause; significant amounts of pro-alphaC are present in circulation after natural menopause, but not after oophorectomy.

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endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Amenorrhea Inhibins Menopause Ovariectomy Protein Precursors Amenorrhea Antineoplastic Agents Antineoplastic Agents Endometriosis Endometriosis Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay Female Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Humans Inhibins Kinetics Longitudinal Studies Menopause Middle Aged

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