Relationship between inhibin-α gene polymorphisms and premature ovarian failure in Korean women

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between inhibin-α (INHα) gene polymorphisms and the prevalence of premature ovarian failure (POF) in Korean women. Methods: The INHα-124A/G,-16C/T, 679G/A, and 769G/A polymorphisms were analyzed in 52 women with POF and 55 normal healthy women using polymerase chain reaction-restriction enzyme fragment length polymorphism analysis. Results: The 679G/A and 769G/A polymorphisms were not observed. The frequencies of the C allele of the INHα-16C/T polymorphism and the G allele of the INHα-124A/G polymorphism were significantly lower in the women with POF than in the normal control women. The frequencies of the CG haplotype allele of these INHα-16C/T and-124A/G gene polymorphisms were also significantly lower in the women with POF than in the control women. Conclusions: The INHα-16C/T and-124A/G polymorphisms are genetic factors associated with the prevalence of POF in Korean women.