Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is a functional marker of fetal Sertoli cells. The germ cell number in adults depends on the number of Sertoli cells produced during perinatal development. Recently, AMH has received increasing attention in research of disorders related to male fertility. This paper reviews and summarizes the articles on the regulation of AMH in males and the serum levels of AMH in male fertility-related disorders. We have determined that follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) promotes AMH transcription in the absence of androgen signaling. Testosterone inhibits the transcriptional activation of AMH. The undetectable levels of serum AMH and testosterone levels indicate a lack of functional testicular tissue, for example, that in patients with anorchia or severe Klinefelter syndrome suffering from impaired spermatogenesis. The normal serum testosterone level and undetectable AMH are highly suggestive of persistent Müllerian duct syndrome (PMDS), combined with clinical manifestations. The levels of both AMH and testosterone are always subnormal in patients with mixed disorders of sex development (DSD). Mixed DSD is an early-onset complete type of disorder with fetal hypogonadism resulting from the dysfunction of both Leydig and Sertoli cells. Serum AMH levels are varying in patients with male fertility-related disorders, including pubertal delay, severe congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, nonobstructive azoospermia, Klinefelter syndrome, varicocele, McCune-Albright syndrome, and male senescence.
Anti-Mullerian Hormone/metabolism* ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone/blood* ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Humans ; Infertility, Male/blood* ; Male ; Testosterone/blood*

This prospective study investigated the relationship between anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) level in the follicular fluid (FF) and the quality of the oocyte and embryo. A total of 65 FF samples from 54 women were included in this study. FF was collected from the largest preovulatory follicle sized> or =20 mm of mean diameter from each ovary. Samples were divided into 3 groups according to the FF AMH levels: below the 33th percentile (low group, FF AMH<2.1 ng/mL, n=21), between the 33th and the 67th percentile (intermediate group, FF AMH=2.1-3.6 ng/mL, n=22), and above the 67th percentile (high group, FF AMH>3.6 ng/mL, n=22). The quality of the ensuing oocytes and embryos was evaluated by fertilization rate and embryo score. FF AMH levels correlated positively with the matched embryo score on day 3 after fertilization (r=0.331, P=0.015). The normal fertilization rate was significantly lower in the low group than in the intermediate group (61.9% vs. 95.5% vs. 77.3%, respectively, P=0.028). Our results suggest that the FF AMH level could be a predictor of the ensuing oocyte and embryo quality.
Adult ; Anti-Mullerian Hormone/*analysis ; Embryo, Mammalian/*cytology ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Follicular Fluid/*metabolism ; Humans ; Oocytes/cytology ; Prospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association of anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) levels in the follicular fluid and serum with the outcomes of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) cycles in patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).

METHODSSerum and follicular fluid samples were obtained from 30 patients with PCOS and 34 healthy women (control) undergoing IVF/ICSI-ET in our center between October, 2007 and January, 2008. All the subjects received treatment with long luteal-phase down-regulation and controlled ovarian hyperstimulation protocol in IVF cycles, and their clinical characteristics were analyzed. The AMH levels in the serum and follicles fluid samples collected on the day of oocyte retrieval were assayed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit.

RESULTSThe two groups showed no significant differences in the mean age, baseline levels of sex hormones, rate of high-quality embryos, implantation rate, pregnancy rate, abortion rate or ongoing pregnancy rate (P>0.05). Despite a significantly lower total gonadotropin dose, PCOS group had a significantly greater number of antral follicles than the control group (P<0.05). The recovery rates of oocytes in PCOS group were significantly lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). AMH levels in the serum and follicle fluid was significantly higher in PCOS group than in the control group (P<0.05), and in both groups, AMH levels in the follicular fluid were significantly higher in pregnant women than in non-pregnant women (P<0.05). AMH level in the follicular fluid was significantly correlated with the implantation rate in both PCOS and control groups (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONAMH level in the serum and follicle fluid on the day of oocyte retrieval is predictive of the treatment outcome of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation in POCS patients but not of pregnancy outcomes after IVF-ET.

Adult ; Anti-Mullerian Hormone ; blood ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; methods ; Follicular Fluid ; metabolism ; Humans ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome ; blood ; metabolism ; therapy ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome

OBJECTIVETo analyze the value of ovarian reserve markers for predicting ovarian response in women undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer.

METHODSAccording to the ovarian response, 331 patients undergoing oocyte retrieval cycles were divided into of normal, poor, and high response groups. Serum anti-Mvllerian hormone (AMH) was determined using AMH ELISA kit on day 3 of the menstrual cycle, antral follicle count (AFC) was measured using vaginal ultrasound, and basal serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and estradiol (E(2)) levels were detected using chemiluminescence method.

RESULTSSerum AMH and FSH levels, FSH/LH ratio, AFC, and the patients age, but not the basal E(2) level (P>0.05), were correlated with the number of oocytes collected (×1000/ampules of Gn) (P<0.001). AFC and serum AMH were the strongest single predictors for low ovarian response, with the areas under curve (AUC) of 0.855 (0.787-0.924) and 0.832 (0.764-0.900) (P<0.05), and cutoff values of ≤9 and ≤1.88 ng/ml, respectively. AFC was the strongest single predictor for high ovarian response, with an AUC of 0.787 (0.728-0.847) and the cutoff value of ≥15. Logistic regression model found that the combination of AFC, serum AMH and FSH improved the predictive power for poor ovarian response, but not for high ovarian response.

CONCLUSIONAFC, serum AMH, FSH, FSH/LH, and age are all predictors of ovarian response, among which AFC is the strongest single predictor. A multivariable model can improve the predictive power for low ovarian response but not for high ovarian response.

Adult ; Age Factors ; Anti-Mullerian Hormone ; blood ; Embryo Transfer ; Estradiol ; blood ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Humans ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Middle Aged ; Oocytes ; cytology ; Ovarian Follicle ; cytology ; metabolism ; Ovary ; cytology ; metabolism ; Ovulation Induction ; methods ; Young Adult

With the rapid dissemination of information in modern society, Chinese residents pay more attention to the scientific concept of childcare, which makes the child prevention and health care industry develop rapidly. The law of children's growth and development is extremely complex, so it is necessary to detect different biomarkers according to different growth and development evaluation angles. Human growth hormone(hGH), insulin-like growth factor-1(IGF-1), insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3(IGFBP-3), thyroid hormone, sex hormone, anti-müllerian hormone(AMH) and 25-hydroxy vitamin D(25-OH VD) are common biomarkers to monitor children's growth and development. This article aims to explain the concept and characteristics of common biomarkers of growth and development, summarize the detection methods of common biomarkers of growth and development evaluation developed in recent years, and provide a reference for children's prevention and health care to select appropriate detection biomarkers.
Anti-Mullerian Hormone/metabolism* ; Biomarkers ; Child ; Growth and Development ; Human Growth Hormone/metabolism* ; Humans ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I/metabolism* ; Thyroid Hormones ; Vitamin D

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Guishen Pill (GSP) on expression levels of Oct-4, MVH, and Egr-1 in mice with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR).

METHODSTotally 40 female C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into 4 groups, the normal control group, the model group, the GSP group, and the dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) group, 10 in each group. Pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG), human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), and prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) were sequentially administrated to produce superovulation. The DOR model was established by exposing to ozone inhalation. Mice in the GSP group were intragastrically administered with GSP at 0.3 mL. Those in the DHEA group were intragastrically administered with DHEA at 0.3 mL. Equal volume of normal saline was intragastrically administered to mice in the normal control group and the model group. All mice wer treated for 21 days. Serum levels of estrogen (E2), progestogen (P), and anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) were measured by ELISA. Changes of Oct-4, anti-AMH, and early growth response gene-1 (Egr-1) mRNA in ovaries were dtected by Real-time PCR.

RESULTSCompared with the model group, serum levels of E2, P, and AMH, as well as contents of estrogen receptor (ER), progestogen receptor (PR), MVH, and Oct-4 mRNA significantly increased in the GSP group and the DHEA group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONGSP could improve expression levels of Oct-4, MVH, and Egr-1 mRNA in DOR mice and their ovarian function.

Animals ; Anti-Mullerian Hormone ; metabolism ; Dehydroepiandrosterone ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Early Growth Response Protein 1 ; metabolism ; Estrogens ; Female ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Octamer Transcription Factor-3 ; metabolism ; Ovarian Reserve ; Ovary ; Pregnancy ; Receptors, Estrogen ; metabolism ; Superovulation

At present, there is no reliable in vitro assembled prepubertal testis-like biomimetic organ culture system designed to assess the functional effects of human gonadotropins on Sertoli and Leydig cells. Spermatogenesis is regulated by endocrine, paracrine, and juxtacrine factors (testicular cross-talk), mainly orchestrated by gonadotropins such as luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) that play a pivotal role by stimulating Leydig and Sertoli cells, respectively. The aim of our study was to set up an in vitro prepubertal porcine bioengineered construct as a new model for experimental studies on reassembled Sertoli and Leydig cells. We have evaluated Sertoli and Leydig cells obtained from 15- to 20-day-old neonatal pig testes in terms of purity and function. Subsequently, purified Sertoli and enriched Leydig cells were subjected to coincubation to obtain an in vitro prepubertal porcine testis-like culture system. We performed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), inhibin B, and testosterone secretion in the medium, and Real-Time PCR analysis of AMH, inhibin B, FSH-r, aromatase, LHr, and 3β-HSD mRNA expression levels. This in vitro testis-like system was highly responsive to the effects of human gonadotropins and testosterone. AMH mRNA expression and secretion declined, and inhibin-B increased, while FSH-receptor expression was downregulated upon FSH/LH exposure/treatment. Finally, the production of testosterone was increased selectively upon LH treatment. In summary, our proposed model could help to better determine the action of human gonadotropins on Sertoli and Leydig cells. The potential usefulness of the system for shedding light into male infertility-related issues is evident.
3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases/metabolism* ; Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Anti-Mullerian Hormone/metabolism* ; Aromatase/metabolism* ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone/pharmacology* ; Hormones/pharmacology* ; In Vitro Techniques ; Inhibins/metabolism* ; Leydig Cells/metabolism* ; Luteinizing Hormone/pharmacology* ; Male ; Models, Biological ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Receptors, FSH/metabolism* ; Receptors, LH/metabolism* ; Sertoli Cells/metabolism* ; Swine ; Testis/metabolism* ; Testosterone/metabolism*

OBJECTIVETo investigate the inhibitory effect of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β₁ on oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) Tb cell line.

METHODSCell counting method was used to examine the inhibitory effect of TGF-β₁ on Tb cell and flow cytometry (FCM) assay performed to measure the changes of cell cycle. Superarray was used to screen the changing expression of genes in TGF-β₁/Smads signaling pathway.RT-PCR method was used to detect the results of Superarray.

RESULTSTGF-β₁ showed significant inhibiting effect on OSCC Tb cell line. TGF-β₁ blocked the cell cycle at G₁ phase. The expression level of activin receptor-like kinase-1 (ACVRL-1), anti-mullerian hirmine (AMH), cyclim-dependent kinase inhibitor-2B (CDKN-2B) and transforming growth factor-beta-indnced factor (TGIF) was higer in the cells treated with TGF-β₁ than in control, while TDGF-1 expression was down-regulated. ACVRL-1 and CDKN-2B gene expression was consistent with the results of Superarray.

CONCLUSIONSTGF-β₁ can inhibit the growth of OSCC Tb cell line. The mechanism may be related to the regulation of cell cycle and the expression of ACVRL-1 and CDKN-2B in TGF-β₁-Smads signaling pathway.

Activin Receptors, Type II ; metabolism ; Anti-Mullerian Hormone ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; pathology ; Cell Cycle Checkpoints ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p15 ; metabolism ; Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Signal Transduction ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of Shen invigorating and Chong-channel Regulating Method (SCRM) on anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and its correlation with oocyte quality in the serum and the follicular fluid of infertile patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) who received in vitro fertilization (IVF), thus studying the mechanism of SCRM on the oocyte quality of PCOS patients.

METHODSSixty infertile patients with PCOS undergo ing in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) were randomly assigned to two groups, 30 in each. Erzhi Tiangui Granule combined with Western medicine was given to patients in the treatment group, while Western medicine was given to those in the control group. The single oocyte estradiol (E2) level, the resistive Index ( RI), the pulsatility index (PI) of the follicular membrane, the number of harvested oocytes, the high quality oocyte rate, the fertilization rate, the cleavage rate, the high quality embryo rate, and the difference of AMH in the serum and the follicular fluid were observed between the two groups. The correlation tests were performed between the levels of AMH in the serum and the follicular fluid and te uli rates of high quality oocyte and high quality embryo. Meanwhile, the correlation analysis of the AMH level between the serum and the follicular fluid was also conducted.

RESULTS(1) The single oocyte E2 level, the high quality oocyte rate, the fertilization rate, the cleavage rate, the high quality embryo rate were significantly higher in the treatment group than in the control group (P < 0.05). (2) The RI and the PI of the follicular membrane both significantly more decreased in the treatment group than in the control group (P < 0.05). (3) The levels of AMH in the serum and the follicular fluid were obviously lower in the treatment group than in the control group (P < 0.01). The AMH levels in the serum and the follicle fluid were positively correlated. The level of AMH in the follicular fluid was obviously negatively correlated with the high quality oocyte rate and the high quality embryo rate.

CONCLUSIONSSCRM could improve the oocyte quality of PCOS patients. Its mechanisms were correlated with regulating the AMH levels in the serum and the follicular fluid, adjusting the androgen level, improving the pathophysiological changes of PCOS patients, and activating the ovarian microenvironment. It is necessary to carry out further studies.

Adult ; Anti-Mullerian Hormone ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Embryo Transfer ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Humans ; Infertility, Female ; therapy ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Oocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome ; metabolism ; therapy

BACKGROUNDPremature ovarian failure (POF) is a disease that affects female fertility but has few effective treatments. Ovarian reserve function plays an important role in female fertility. Recent studies have reported that hydrogen can protect male fertility. Therefore, we explored the potential protective effect of hydrogen-rich water on ovarian reserve function through a mouse immune POF model.

METHODSTo set up immune POF model, fifty female BALB/c mice were randomly divided into four groups: Control (mice consumed normal water, n = 10), hydrogen (mice consumed hydrogen-rich water, n = 10), model (mice were immunized with zona pellucida glycoprotein 3 [ZP3] and consumed normal water, n = 15), and model-hydrogen (mice were immunized with ZP3 and consumed hydrogen-rich water, n = 15) groups. After 5 weeks, mice were sacrificed. Serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels, granulosa cell (GC) apoptotic index (AI), B-cell leukemia/lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), and BCL2-associated X protein (Bax) expression were examined. Analyses were performed using SPSS 17.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) software.

RESULTSImmune POF model, model group exhibited markedly reduced serum AMH levels compared with those of the control group (5.41 ± 0.91 ng/ml vs. 16.23 ± 1.97 ng/ml, P = 0.033) and the hydrogen group (19.65 ± 7.82 ng/ml, P = 0.006). The model-hydrogen group displayed significantly higher AMH concentrations compared with that of the model group (15.03 ± 2.75 ng/ml vs. 5.41 ± 0.91 ng/ml, P = 0.021). The GC AI was significantly higher in the model group (21.30 ± 1.74%) than those in the control (7.06 ± 0.27%), hydrogen (5.17 ± 0.41%), and model-hydrogen groups (11.24 ± 0.58%) (all P < 0.001). The GC AI was significantly higher in the model-hydrogen group compared with that of the hydrogen group (11.24 ± 0.58% vs. 5.17 ± 0.41%, P = 0.021). Compared with those of the model group, ovarian tissue Bcl-2 levels increased (2.18 ± 0.30 vs. 3.01 ± 0.33, P = 0.045) and the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio decreased in the model-hydrogen group.

CONCLUSIONSHydrogen-rich water may improve serum AMH levels and reduce ovarian GC apoptosis in a mouse immune POF model induced by ZP3.

Animals ; Anti-Mullerian Hormone ; blood ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Female ; Granulosa Cells ; cytology ; Hydrogen ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Ovarian Reserve ; drug effects ; physiology ; Ovary ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Primary Ovarian Insufficiency ; blood ; metabolism ; prevention & control ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Water ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Zona Pellucida ; drug effects ; physiology ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism