Inhibin: actions and signalling.

Inhibin is best known as a reproductive hormone that inhibits release of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) from the pituitary gland. Over the last decade or so a number of other biological roles have emerged, putting inhibin more in the class of a growth factor. Despite this, little is known of the signalling pathways for this protein. This minireview summarises the pertinent aspects of inhibin biology and focuses on four potential signalling mechanisms through which inhibin might influence cellular function, namely subunit availability, receptor assembly, co-receptors and signalling through inhibin-specific signalling pathways.