Title: activin
Long Title: IUPAC Gold Book - activin
DOI: 10.1351/goldbook.10335
Status: current

Definition
Growth factor of the transforming growth factor \(\upbeta\) (TGF-\(\upbeta\)) superfamily, originally identified as a gonadal factor that stimulated secretion of follicle-stimulating hormone, also involved in many aspects of development including mesodermal induction (see mesenchyme), hematopoiesis, and neuronal differentiation.

Related Terms
- Growth factor: https://goldbook.iupac.org/terms/view/10782
- follicle-stimulating hormone: https://goldbook.iupac.org/terms/view/10730
- hematopoiesis: https://goldbook.iupac.org/terms/view/10789
- mesenchyme: https://goldbook.iupac.org/terms/view/10942
- mesodermal: https://goldbook.iupac.org/terms/view/10944
- neuronal: https://goldbook.iupac.org/terms/view/11012

Source
- PAC, 2016, 88, 713. 'Glossary of terms used in developmental and reproductive toxicology (IUPAC Recommendations 2016)' on page 716 (https://doi.org/10.1515/pac-2015-1202)

Other Outputs
- html: https://goldbook.iupac.org/terms/view/10335/html
- json: https://goldbook.iupac.org/terms/view/10335/json
- xml: https://goldbook.iupac.org/terms/view/10335/xml

Citation: Citation: 'activin' in IUPAC Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 5th ed. International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; 2025. Online version 5.0.0, 2025. 10.1351/goldbook.10335
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Disclaimer: The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) is continuously reviewing and, where needed, updating terms in the Compendium of Chemical Terminology (the IUPAC Gold Book). Users of these terms are encouraged to include the version of a term with its use and to check regularly for updates to term definitions that you are using.
Accessed: 2026-05-13T20:21:35+00:00