PERIPHERAL VEIN, OVARIAN VEIN AND OVARIAN TISSUE-LEVELS OF INHIBIN INA POSTMENOPAUSAL PATIENT WITH A GRANULOSA-CELL TUMOR

In a patient with a granulosa cell tumour, stage 1a1, peripheral and o varian vein blood samples were drawn before, during and after bilatera l oophorectomy. Before operation inhibin and follicle-stimulating horm one levels were in the premenopausal range, whereas the peripheral lev el of oestradiol and luteinizing hormone were in the normal postmenopa usal range. In the ovarian vein at the side of the tumour, inhibin and oestradiol levels were elevated. whereas in the contralateral ovarian vein the concentrations of inhibin and oestradiol were in the same ra nge as in the peripheral vein. Immunoreactive inhibin levels in the ho mogenized tumour were 23 times higher than in the contralateral ovary, whereas inhibin bioactivities in the same samples amounted to 126 and 14 U/mg protein, respectively. After removal of the tumour, periphera l serum follicle-stimulating hormone and inhibin levels were in the no rmal postmenopausal range again. We conclude that inhibin can have a r ole as a marker for granulosa cell tumours.