EXPRESSION OF INHIBIN-ALPHA, INHIBIN-BETA(A) AND INHIBIN-BETA(B) MESSENGER RIBONUCLEIC-ACIDS IN THE NORMAL HUMAN OVARY AND IN POLYCYSTIC OVARIAN SYNDROME

We studied the cellular distribution of inhibin alpha, beta(A) and bet a(B) mRNAs in the normal human ovary and in polycystic ovarian syndrom e (PCOS) by in situ hybridization. Our results show that human granulo sa cells express inhibin alpha, beta(A) and beta(B) subunit mRNAs, and theca cells express inhibin alpha and beta(B) subunit mRNAs. The co-l ocalization of alpha and beta(A) mRNAs in theca cells supports the hyp othesis that inhibin also has an autocrine function in these cells. We did not detect any inhibin subunit mRNA in the granulosa cells of atr etic follicles, while theca cells also expressed alpha subunit mRNA in those follicles. The present findings suggest that the expression of inhibin subunits is regulated differently in human follicular granulos a and theca cells. It has been speculated that inhibin may be involved in the development of PCOS. Our results show that the cellular locali zation of inhibin subunit mRNAs is not disturbed in PCOS ovaries.