Activin/Inhibins Receptor

Activins and inhibins are glycoprotein hormones produced mainly in gonads but also in other organs. Activins are dimers of β-subunits (βA:βA, βA:βB, and βB:βB; activin A, activin AB, and activin B, respectively). Inhibins consist of either of the β-subunits dimerized with a common α-subunit (α:βA and α:βB; inhibin A and inhibin B, respectively). They are believed to be important para/autocrine regulators of various cell functions. All known activin/inhibin receptor and follistatin mRNAs were expressed in both fetal and adult adrenals as well as in cultured adrenocortical cells.