Existence of inhibin alpha-subunit gene mutation in a population of Iranian women with premature ovarian failure

ABSTRACT

Premature ovarian failure [POF] is characterized by hypergonadotropic amenorrhea, before the age of 40, for which the Inhibin alpha-submit [INH alpha] gene is proposed as a candidate gene, due to its role in negative feedback control of FSH. In this study we aimed at demonstrating the candidate mutation as a gene variation associated with POF in Iranian population. Using DNA sequencing, DNA samples of 24 women with POF and 24 controls aged below 40 years, were screened for mutations in the Inhibin gene. The 769G[right wards arrow] A mutation in exon 2 of the Inhibin alpha gene was found in four out of 24 idiopathic POF patients. The results obtained in this study have shown that this variation is more frequent in patients with POF than in normal fertile populations of Iran