Anti-Müllerian Hormone and OPU-ICSI Outcome in the Mare.
Abstract: Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) reflects the population of growing follicles and has been related to mammalian fertility. In the horse, clinical application of ovum pick-up and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (OPU-ICSI) is increasing, but results depend largely on the individuality of the mare. The aim of this study was to assess AMH as a predictor for the OPU-ICSI outcome in horses. Therefore, 103 mares with a total follicle count above 10 were included in a commercial OPU-ICSI session and serum AMH was determined using ELISA. Overall, the AMH level was significantly correlated with the number of aspirated follicles and the number of recovered oocytes (p < 0.001). Mares with a high AMH level (≥2.5 µg/L) yielded significantly greater numbers of follicles (22.9 ± 1.2), oocytes (13.5 ± 0.8), and blastocysts (2.1 ± 0.4) per OPU-ICSI session compared to mares with medium (1.5-2.5 µg/L) or low AMH levels (<1.5 µg/L), but no significant differences in blastocyst rates were observed. Yet, AMH levels were variable and 58% of the mares with low AMH also produced an embryo. In conclusion, measurement of serum AMH can be used to identify mares with higher chances of producing multiple in vitro embryos, but not as an independent predictor of successful OPU-ICSI in horses.
Publication Date: 2021-07-05 PubMed ID: 34359132PubMed Central: PMC8300260DOI: 10.3390/ani11072004Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research article discusses a study that aimed to assess the Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) as a potential predictor for the outcomes of the ovum pick-up and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (OPU-ICSI) fertility treatment in horses. The findings suggest that while higher levels of AMH can identify mares more likely to produce multiple in vitro embryos, it cannot be used solely to predict successful OPU-ICSI outcomes.
Study Motivation and Objective
- The researchers embarked on this study due to the increasing application of OPU-ICSI in horses, a method that extracts eggs directly from the mare’s ovaries and injects a single sperm into each egg.
- The key objective of the research was to investigate whether AMH, a hormone reflecting the population of growing follicles within a mare’s ovaries, could be leveraged as a predictor for the outcome of OPU-ICSI in horses.
Research Methodology
- The study included 103 mares that had more than 10 total follicles, an important preliminary criterion for inclusion given the hormone’s purported link to the ovarian follicle population.
- Serum AMH levels in these mares were determined with a scientific method known as ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay).
- The researchers then conducted a commercial OPU-ICSI session on the mares, correlating the obtained results with the measured AMH levels.
Key Findings
- The study found a significant correlation between AMH levels, the number of aspirated follicles, and the number of retrieved oocytes, establishing a connection between high AMH levels and a greater number of follicles and oocytes.
- Mares with high AMH levels also yielded more blastocysts (precursors to embryos) per OPU-ICSI session compared to those with medium or low AMH levels.
- No significant differences in blastocyst rates were found in relation to AMH levels, and surprisingly, 58% of the mares with low AMH levels still produced an embryo.
Conclusion
- While the measurement of serum AMH levels can help identify mares likely to produce multiple in vitro embryos, it shouldn’t be used as the sole predictor of successful OPU-ICSI outcome in horses.
- The findings imply that while AMH offers some predictive power, it’s an unreliable standalone predictor for fertility treatments, highlighting the need for additional factors in predicting OPU-ICSI outcomes.
Cite This Article
APA
Papas M, Govaere J, Peere S, Gerits I, Van de Velde M, Angel-Velez D, De Coster T, Van Soom A, Smits K.
(2021).
Anti-Müllerian Hormone and OPU-ICSI Outcome in the Mare.
Animals (Basel), 11(7).
https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11072004 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Reproduction, Obstetrics and Herd Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
- Department of Reproduction, Obstetrics and Herd Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
- Department of Reproduction, Obstetrics and Herd Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
- Department of Reproduction, Obstetrics and Herd Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
- Department of Reproduction, Obstetrics and Herd Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
- Department of Reproduction, Obstetrics and Herd Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
- Research Group in Animal Sciences-INCA-CES, Universidad CES, 050021 Medellin, Colombia.
- Department of Reproduction, Obstetrics and Herd Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
- Department of Reproduction, Obstetrics and Herd Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
- Department of Reproduction, Obstetrics and Herd Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
Grant Funding
- 1222317 / Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
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Citations
This article has been cited 9 times.- Scarlet D, Schuler G, Malama E, Bollwein H, Bocci C, Colleoni S, Lazzari G, Galli C, Kowalewski MP. Endocrine profile and OPU-ICSI outcomes in mares: a comparative study. Reprod Fertil 2025 Jul 1;6(3).
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