Immunoreactive inhibin concentrations in human gonads and adrenals during the first years of life.

We determined immunoreactive inhibin (irINH) concentration in the gonads and adrenals of healthy children (0-75 months) who had died suddenly. Testicular irINH peaked in the first 3 months of life with a significant drop in the 4th month (p < 0.05). In ovarian tissue, irINH was significantly lower than in the testes (p < 0.001) with highest levels during the first 4 months of life parallel to the highest estradiol concentrations. A significant correlation between gonadal testosterone/estradiol and irINH was observed. In adrenal tissue, irINH levels were significantly lower than in the gonads without sex-specific differences.