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Existence of a follicle-stimulating hormone inhibiting factor ‘inhibin’ in bull seminal plasma

Abstract

THE existence of a substance of testicular origin capable of inhibiting the secretion of pituitary follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) was postulated by McCullagh1, who gave it the name ‘inhibin’, and direct, though not conclusive, evidence for its presence has since been provided2–6. After extraction and gel chromatography of bull seminal plasma, Franchimont et al.7,8 obtained a proteinaceous fraction (AcII) capable of decreasing basal FSH levels as well as diminishing the FSH response to exogenous luteinising hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) in normal and castrated adult male rats. We here summarise work based primarily on the specific biological effects of antiserum to AcII in rats, suggesting the existence of inhibin in bull seminal plasma.

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FRANCHIMONT, P., CHARI, S., HAGELSTEIN, M. et al. Existence of a follicle-stimulating hormone inhibiting factor ‘inhibin’ in bull seminal plasma. Nature 257, 402–404 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1038/257402a0

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