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Hum. Reprod. Advance Access published online on June 13, 2007
Human Reproduction, doi:10.1093/humrep/dem145
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© The Author 2007. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org

Heritability of reproductive hormones in adult male twins

E.A.M. Kuijper1,4, C.B. Lambalk1, D.I. Boomsma2, S. van der Sluis2, M.A. Blankenstein3, E.J.C. de Geus2 and D. Posthuma2

1 Division of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, VU University Medical Center (VUmc), 1007 MB Amsterdam, The Netherlands 2 Department of Biological Psychology, VU University, 1007 MB Amsterdam, The Netherlands 3 Department of Clinical Chemistry, VU University Medical Center (VUmc), 1007 MB Amsterdam, The Netherlands

4 Correspondence address. Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Tel: +31-20-4440070; Fax: +31-20-4440045; E-mail: e.kuijper{at}vumc.nl

BACKGROUND: Proper functioning of the male reproductive axis depends on complex feedback systems between several hormones. In this study, the genetic contribution of various endocrine components of the hypothalamic–pituitary–testicular axis is evaluated and previously observed differences in FSH and inhibin B levels between mono- (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) twins are re-investigated.

METHODS: Inhibin B, FSH, LH, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and testosterone levels were assayed in 128 adult males (20 MZ twin pairs, 7 single MZ twins, 10 DZ twin pairs, 27 single DZ twins and 34 siblings of twins, constituting 10 sibling pairs), aged 15.6–68.7 years. Hormone levels were compared across zygosity groups and heritability estimates were obtained using maximum likelihood variance component analysis.

RESULTS: Heritability estimates ranged from 56% (testosterone) to 81% (inhibin B and SHBG). For LH and FSH, the heritability was estimated at 68% and 80% respectively. No mean differences in hormone levels were observed across groups.

CONCLUSIONS: All measured hormones are highly heritable. A difference in the FSH-inhibin B feedback system between DZ twin males and MZ twin males could not be confirmed.

Key words: heritability/hormones/male/reproductive/twins

Submitted on January 9, 2007; resubmitted on April 24, 2007; accepted on May 1, 2007.


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