The interrelationship between anti-Müllerian hormone, ovarian follicular populations and age in mares.
Abstract: Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is a granulosa-cell-derived glycoprotein, which plays an important inhibitory role during folliculogenesis. Concentrations of AMH are highly correlated with antral follicle counts (AFCs) in other species, which in turn are related to follicular reserve. Relatively little is known about AMH and AFC in the mare. Objective: To determine plasma AMH concentrations and AFCs in mares of different ages, to measure the repeatability of AMH concentrations and AFCs within and across oestrous cycles and to assess the relationship between plasma AMH concentrations and AFCs with regard to mare age and follicle size. Methods: An observational study examining the relationship between AMH, AFC and age in 45 mares. Methods: Young (3-8 years), middle-aged (9-18 years) and old mares (19-27 years) were examined by transrectal ultrasonography over 2 or 3 oestrous cycles. Plasma AMH concentrations and AFCs were determined, and antral follicles were classified by size into different groups. Results: Plasma AMH concentrations varied widely between mares within similar age groups. Antral follicle counts were significantly lower in old mares than in young and middle-aged mares, and AMH concentrations were significantly lower in old than in middle-aged mares. A positive relationship was detected between AFC and AMH, and this relationship varied by mare age with a strong correlation in older mares (ρ = 0.86; P<0.0001), a moderate correlation in middle-aged mares (ρ = 0.60; P = 0.01) and no correlation in young mares (ρ = 0.40, P<0.4). The AMH concentrations were significantly related to the number of antral follicles between 6 and 20 mm in diameter, and the repeatability of AFCs and AMH concentrations was high within and between oestrous cycles. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that the relationship between AMH and AFC varies across age groups, and concentrations of AMH might be a better reflection of reproductive age than calendar age.
© 2014 EVJ Ltd.
Publication Date: 2014-09-29 PubMed ID: 25124401DOI: 10.1111/evj.12328Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research investigates the relationship between anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), antral follicle counts (AFCs), and age in horses, demonstrating that AMH concentrations might be indicative of reproductive rather than chronological age in mares.
Objective and Methodology
- The primary objective of this study was to discern the plasma concentrations of AMH and AFCs in mares of varying ages and to ascertain the repeatability of these measurements across multiple oestrus cycles. Further, it aimed to outline the correlation between AMH concentrations and AFCs considering mare age and follicle size.
- The research methodology involved an observational study examining the relationship between AMH, AFC, and age in 45 mares. The mares were divided into three categories based on age: Young (3-8 years), Middle-aged (9-18 years), and Old (19-27 years).
- Each of the mares was examined using transrectal ultrasonography across two or three oestrus cycles. During these examinations, plasma AMH concentrations were determined, AFCs were counted, and antral follicles were classified according to size.
Key Research Findings
- Wide variations in plasma AMH concentrations were noticed between mares in the same age groups.
- AFCs were significantly lower in the old age mare group than in the young and middle-aged groups. Similarly, the AMH concentrations were also significantly lower in the older mares than their middle-aged counterparts.
- A significant positive correlation between AFC and AMH was found. However, this relation fluctuated depending on the age of the mare, with strong correlation in older mares, moderate correlation in middle-aged mares, and no correlation in young mares
- A significant relationship was found between the AMH concentrations and the number of antral follicles sized between 6 and 20mm in diameter.
- The repeatability of AFCs and AMH concentrations was high within and between the oestrus cycles.
Conclusions
- The research concluded that the relationship between AFCs and AMH varies according to age groups in mares.
- It potentially suggests that AMH concentrations could be a better marker of reproductive age than chronological age in mares.
Cite This Article
APA
Claes A, Ball BA, Scoggin KE, Esteller-Vico A, Kalmar JJ, Conley AJ, Squires EL, Troedsson MH.
(2014).
The interrelationship between anti-Müllerian hormone, ovarian follicular populations and age in mares.
Equine Vet J, 47(5), 537-541.
https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.12328 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.
- 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.
- Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, USA.
- Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, USA.
- 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.
MeSH Terms
- Aging / physiology
- Animals
- Anti-Mullerian Hormone / blood
- Anti-Mullerian Hormone / metabolism
- Estrous Cycle / physiology
- Female
- Horses / physiology
- Ovarian Follicle / physiology
Citations
This article has been cited 7 times.- Drozdzewska K, Gehlen H. Markers for internal neoplasia in the horse.. Vet Med Sci 2023 Jan;9(1):132-143.
- 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).
- Kaps M, Okada CTC, Gautier CM, Aurich J, Aurich C. Deslorelin Slow-Release Implants Delay Ovulation and Increase Plasma AMH Concentration and Small Antral Follicles in Haflinger Mares.. Animals (Basel) 2021 May 28;11(6).
- Barranco I, Fernandez-Fuertes B, Padilla L, Delgado-Bermúdez A, Tvarijonaviciute A, Yeste M. Seminal Plasma Anti-Müllerian Hormone: A Potential AI-Boar Fertility Biomarker?. Biology (Basel) 2020 Apr 10;9(4).
- 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).
- Steel A, Athorn RZ, Grupen CG. Serum Concentrations of AMH and E2 and Ovarian and Uterine Traits in Gilts.. Animals (Basel) 2019 Oct 15;9(10).
- Grady ST, Watts AE, Thompson JA, Penedo MCT, Konganti K, Hinrichs K. Effect of intra-ovarian injection of mesenchymal stem cells in aged mares.. J Assist Reprod Genet 2019 Mar;36(3):543-556.
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