Molecular changes in the equine follicle in relation to variations in antral follicle count and anti-Müllerian hormone concentrations.
Abstract: The wide variation in circulating anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) concentrations between mares is attributed to differences in antral follicle count (AFC) which may reflect follicular function. There are few data regarding variations in AFC and associated regulatory factors for AMH in the equine follicle during follicular development. Objective: To examine molecular and hormonal differences in the equine follicle in relation to variations in AFC and circulating AMH concentrations during follicular development and to identify genes co-expressed with AMH in the equine follicle. Methods: Observational study. Methods: Plasma AMH concentrations and AFC were determined in 30 cyclic mares. Granulosa cells, theca cells and follicular fluid were recovered from growing (n = 17) or dominant follicles (n = 13). The expression of several genes, known to be involved in folliculogenesis and steroidogenesis, was examined using real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry. Intrafollicular oestradiol and AMH concentrations were determined by immunoassay. Results: Within growing follicles, the expression of AMH, AMHR2, ESR2 and INHA in granulosa cells was positively correlated with AFC and plasma AMH concentrations. In addition, the expression of ESR1 and FSHR was positively associated with plasma AMH concentrations. No significant associations were detected in dominant follicles. Furthermore, there was no association between AMH or oestradiol concentrations in follicular fluid and variations in AFC. Finally, the expression of AMH and genes co-expressed with AMH (AMHR2, ESR2 and FSHR) in granulosa cells as well as intrafollicular AMH concentrations decreased during follicular development while intrafollicular oestradiol concentrations increased and were inversely related to intrafollicular AMH concentrations. Conclusions: This study indicates that variations in AFC and circulating AMH concentrations are associated with molecular changes in the growing equine follicle.
© 2015 EVJ Ltd.
Publication Date: 2015-11-06 PubMed ID: 26403213DOI: 10.1111/evj.12514Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research article focuses on the relationship between antral follicle count and anti-Müllerian hormone concentrations in horses, and how these variations affect the molecular changes within the equine follicle during follicular development.
Study Overview and Objective
- This research aims to investigate the molecular and hormonal differences in the equine follicle in association with variations in antral follicle count (AFC) and circulating anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) concentrations during follicular development.
- The study also aims to identify genes co-expressed with AMH in the equine follicle.
Methods
- The research was an observational study involving 30 cyclic mares. Both plasma AMH concentrations and AFC were determined in these mares.
- Granulosa cells, theca cells and follicular fluid were recovered from growing (n = 17) or dominant follicles (n = 13).
- The expression of several genes known to be involved in folliculogenesis and steroidogenesis was examined using real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry.
- Intrafollicular oestradiol and AMH concentrations were determined by immunoassay.
Results
- Within growing follicles, the expression of AMH, AMHR2, ESR2 and INHA in granulosa cells was positively correlated with AFC and plasma AMH concentrations.
- In addition, the expression of ESR1 and FSHR was positively associated with plasma AMH concentrations.
- No significant associations were detected in dominant follicles.
- There was no association between AMH or oestradiol concentrations in follicular fluid and variations in AFC.
- The expression of AMH and genes co-expressed with AMH (AMHR2, ESR2 and FSHR) in granulosa cells decreased during follicular development. Meanwhile, intrafollicular oestradiol concentrations increased and showed an inverse relationship with intrafollicular AMH concentrations.
Conclusions
- The study concludes that variations in AFC and circulating AMH concentrations are associated with molecular changes in the growing equine follicle.
- This research could potentially further the understanding of follicular development in mares and may be helpful for equine reproductive management.
Cite This Article
APA
Claes A, Ball BA, Troedsson MH, Curry TE, Squires EL, Scoggin KE.
(2015).
Molecular changes in the equine follicle in relation to variations in antral follicle count and anti-Müllerian hormone concentrations.
Equine Vet J, 48(6), 741-748.
https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.12514 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, USA.
- Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, USA. b.a.ball@uky.edu.
- Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, USA.
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, USA.
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, USA.
- Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Anti-Mullerian Hormone / blood
- Anti-Mullerian Hormone / chemistry
- Anti-Mullerian Hormone / genetics
- Anti-Mullerian Hormone / metabolism
- Estradiol / chemistry
- Estradiol / genetics
- Estradiol / metabolism
- Female
- Follicular Fluid / chemistry
- Gene Expression Regulation / physiology
- Horses / physiology
- Ovarian Follicle / physiology
- RNA, Messenger / genetics
- RNA, Messenger / metabolism
Citations
This article has been cited 6 times.- Kawai T, Richards JS, Shimada M. Large-scale DNA demethylation occurs in proliferating ovarian granulosa cells during mouse follicular development. Commun Biol 2021 Nov 25;4(1):1334.
- Papas M, Govaere J, Peere S, Gerits I, Van de Velde M, Angel-Velez D, De Coster T, Van Soom A, Smits K. Anti-Müllerian Hormone and OPU-ICSI Outcome in the Mare. Animals (Basel) 2021 Jul 5;11(7).
- Gautam D, Vats A, Pal P, Haldar A, De S. Characterization of Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) Gene in Buffaloes and Goats. Front Vet Sci 2021;8:627094.
- Umer S, Zhao SJ, Sammad A, Weldegebriall Sahlu B, Yunwei P, Zhu H. AMH: Could It Be Used as A Biomarker for Fertility and Superovulation in Domestic Animals?. Genes (Basel) 2019 Dec 4;10(12).
- Almeida FRCL, Costermans NGJ, Soede NM, Bunschoten A, Keijer J, Kemp B, Teerds KJ. Presence of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) during follicular development in the porcine ovary. PLoS One 2018;13(7):e0197894.
- Ishak GM, Bashir ST, Dutra GA, Gastal GDA, Gastal MO, Cavinder CA, Feugang JM, Gastal EL. In vivo antral follicle wall biopsy: a new research technique to study ovarian function at the cellular and molecular levels. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2018 Jul 28;16(1):71.
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