Research Trial:
Researchers at Monash Medical Centre, Clayton in collaboration with the World Health Organisation are trialing a new male contraceptive method. We need healthy couples living in a stable relationship and not planning pregnancy for two years.
more details >>

Inhibin receptors/binding proteins and actions

Inhibin is a major hormone involved in fertility regulation. Its role in the reproductive process is, at this time, poorly understood. Two models of inhibin action have been proposed. Inhibin can bind together betaglycan and type II receptors for activin, a member of the inhibin family of hormones. By forming this complex of proteins on the cell surface, inhibin prevents transfer of the activin signal from its type II receptors, via its type I receptors, to its messenger molecules, Smad 2 or 3, inside the cell. In addition to such anti-activin actions, inhibin may produce independent effects via signalling receptors that are specific for inhibin, but none has yet been identified. Recently, our Group has discovered the sites on the pituitary and adrenal glands where the inhibin molecule attaches and acts. By growing cells in tissue culture, several proteins have been found to bind inhibin. In a joint effort with members of the Male Reproductive Endocrinology Group, we hope that one of these un-identified proteins will lead to the discovery of the elusive inhibin receptor, which will be of great use in clarifying how inhibin works.

Another part of our research focuses on the various genes turned on and off by inhibin. Understanding how and why this happens, and its effects, could lead to the development of new reproductive therapies.