This gene encodes the beta C chain of inhibin, a member of the TGF-beta superfamily. This subunit forms heterodimers with beta A and beta B subunits. Inhibins and activins, also members of the TGF-beta superfamily, are hormones with opposing actions and are involved in hypothalamic, pituitary, and gonadal hormone secretion, as well as growth and differentiation of various cell types.

Schmitt et al. (1996) cloned a cDNA for the mouse inhibin/activin beta-C gene. The mouse gene encodes a predicted 352-amino acid prepropeptide and a 116-amino acid mature protein which is 94% identical to the human sequence. Ribonuclease protein assays showed that mouse Inhbc is mainly expressed in adult liver.