Occurrence of bioactive and immunoreactive inhibin (13 KD) in human epididymis.

Using specific polyclonal antibodies generated against a 13 KD human testicular inhibin, immunocytochemical localization of inhibin was carried out in different regions of human epididymis. The concentrations of inhibin were greater in caput and corpus regions as compared to the caudal region. The epididymal inhibin was found to be bioactive, since it suppressed specifically the FSH levels of rat pituitaries in vitro. Spermiophage/macrophage cells exhibited strong staining for inhibin which were suggestive of a possible role of inhibin in modulation of immune function. In view of the known activities of inhibin in cellular growth, differentiation, and steroidogenesis, epididymal inhibin could have a role in acquisition of sperm fertilizing capabilities.