G769A variation of inhibin alpha-gene in korean women with premature ovarian failure.

Premature ovarian failure (POF) is menopause before the age of 40 years. The frequency of POF is about 1% of all women. Recently inhibin alpha gene (INHalpha) has been indicated as candidate in POF pathogenesis. Inhibin, a glycoprotein, is a gonadal hormone, which can inhibit the synthesis and secretion of pituitary follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which has an important role in the recruitment and development of ovarian follicles during the folliculogenesis. G769A variation of INHalpha, alanine, is highly conserved across species, and has an important role of its receptor binding. We screened a G769A transition in the INHalpha from the total population of the patients of 84 women with POF and 100 normal fertile women. We found no variation between the normal subjects and the POF patients. G769A variation of INHalpha is rare in Korea women with POF.