J Korean Med Sci.  2014 Sep;29(9):1266-1270. 10.3346/jkms.2014.29.9.1266.

Anti-Mullerian Hormone Levels in the Follicular Fluid of the Preovulatory Follicle: A Predictor for Oocyte Fertilization and Quality of Embryo

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea. suhcs@snu.ac.kr
  • 2Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
  • 3Health Promotion Center, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea.

Abstract

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.

Keyword

Anti-Mullerian Hormone; Follicular Fluid; Oocyte Competence; Embryo Quality; In Vitro Fertilization

MeSH Terms

Adult
Anti-Mullerian Hormone/*analysis
Embryo, Mammalian/*cytology
Female
Fertilization in Vitro
Follicular Fluid/*metabolism
Humans
Oocytes/cytology
Prospective Studies
Anti-Mullerian Hormone

Figure

  • Fig. 1 Correlation of the follicular fluid (FF) anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) level with day 3 embryo score.

  • Fig. 2 Fertilization and top-quality embryo rate in low, intermediate, and high anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) groups. *P % 0.05 when compared with the low group (chi-square test).


Reference

1. Seifer DB, Maclaughlin DT. Mullerian Inhibiting Substance is an ovarian growth factor of emerging clinical significance. Fertil Steril. 2007; 88:539–546.
2. Knight PG, Glister C. Local roles of TGF-beta superfamily members in the control of ovarian follicle development. Anim Reprod Sci. 2003; 78:165–183.
3. Durlinger AL, Gruijters MJ, Kramer P, Karels B, Ingraham HA, Nachtigal MW, Uilenbroek JT, Grootegoed JA, Themmen AP. Anti-Müllerian hormone inhibits initiation of primordial follicle growth in the mouse ovary. Endocrinology. 2002; 143:1076–1084.
4. Durlinger AL, Gruijters MJ, Kramer P, Karels B, Kumar TR, Matzuk MM, Rose UM, de Jong FH, Uilenbroek JT, Grootegoed JA, et al. Anti-Müllerian hormone attenuates the effects of FSH on follicle development in the mouse ovary. Endocrinology. 2001; 142:4891–4899.
5. Josso N, Racine C, di Clemente N, Rey R, Xavier F. The role of anti-Müllerian hormone in gonadal development. Mol Cell Endocrinol. 1998; 145:3–7.
6. De Vet A, Laven JS, de Jong FH, Themmen AP, Fauser BC. Antimüllerian hormone serum levels: a putative marker for ovarian aging. Fertil Steril. 2002; 77:357–362.
7. Shin SY, Lee JR, Noh GW, Kim HJ, Kang WJ, Kim SH, Chung JK. Analysis of serum levels of anti-Mullerian hormone, inhibin B, insulin-like growth factor-I, insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3, and follicle-stimulating hormone with respect to age and menopausal status. J Korean Med Sci. 2008; 23:104–110.
8. Seifer DB, MacLaughlin DT, Christian BP, Feng B, Shelden RM. Early follicular serum müllerian-inhibiting substance levels are associated with ovarian response during assisted reproductive technology cycles. Fertil Steril. 2002; 77:468–471.
9. Van Rooij IA, Broekmans FJ, te Velde ER, Fauser BC, Bancsi LF, de Jong FH, Themmen AP. Serum anti-Müllerian hormone levels: a novel measure of ovarian reserve. Hum Reprod. 2002; 17:3065–3071.
10. Lee JR, Kim SH, Kim SM, Jee BC, Ku SY, Suh CS, Choi YM, Kim JG, Moon SY. Anti-Mullerian hormone dynamics during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation and optimal timing of measurement for outcome prediction. Hum Reprod. 2010; 25:2597–2604.
11. Ebner T, Sommergruber M, Moser M, Shebl O, Schreier-Lechner E, Tews G. Basal level of anti-Müllerian hormone is associated with oocyte quality in stimulated cycles. Hum Reprod. 2006; 21:2022–2026.
12. Silberstein T, MacLaughlin DT, Shai I, Trimarchi JR, Lambert-Messerlian G, Seifer DB, Keefe DL, Blazar AS. Mullerian inhibiting substance levels at the time of HCG administration in IVF cycles predict both ovarian reserve and embryo morphology. Hum Reprod. 2006; 21:159–163.
13. Irez T, Ocal P, Guralp O, Cetin M, Aydogan B, Sahmay S. Different serum anti-Müllerian hormone concentrations are associated with oocyte quality, embryo development parameters and IVF-ICSI outcomes. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2011; 284:1295–1301.
14. Fanchin R, Mendez Lozano DH, Frydman N, Gougeon A, di Clemente N, Frydman R, Taieb J. Anti-Müllerian hormone concentrations in the follicular fluid of the preovulatory follicle are predictive of the implantation potential of the ensuing embryo obtained by in vitro fertilization. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2007; 92:1796–1802.
15. Lee JR, Kim SH, Kim SM, Jee BC, Ku SY, Suh CS, Choi YM, Kim JG, Moon SY. Follicular fluid anti-Müllerian hormone and inhibin B concentrations: comparison between gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist and GnRH antagonist cycles. Fertil Steril. 2008; 89:860–867.
16. Takahashi C, Fujito A, Kazuka M, Sugiyama R, Ito H, Isaka K. Anti-Müllerian hormone substance from follicular fluid is positively associated with success in oocyte fertilization during in vitro fertilization. Fertil Steril. 2008; 89:586–591.
17. Rotterdam ESHRE/ASRM-Sponsored PCOS Consensus Workshop Group. Revised 2003 consensus on diagnostic criteria and long-term health risks related to polycystic ovary syndrome. Fertil Steril. 2004; 81:19–25.
18. Cupisti S, Dittrich R, Mueller A, Strick R, Stiegler E, Binder H, Beckmann MW, Strissel P. Correlations between anti-müllerian hormone, inhibin B, and activin A in follicular fluid in IVF/ICSI patients for assessing the maturation and developmental potential of oocytes. Eur J Med Res. 2007; 12:604–608.
19. Mehta BN, Chimote MN, Chimote NN, Nath NM, Chimote NM. Follicular-fluid anti-Mullerian hormone (FF AMH) is a plausible biochemical indicator of functional viability of oocyte in conventional in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles. J Hum Reprod Sci. 2013; 6:99–105.
20. Nakahara K, Saito H, Saito T, Ito M, Ohta N, Takahashi T, Hiroi M. The incidence of apoptotic bodies in membrana granulosa can predict prognosis of ova from patients participating in in vitro fertilization programs. Fertil Steril. 1997; 68:312–317.
21. Zeuner A, Müller K, Reguszynski K, Jewgenow K. Apoptosis within bovine follicular cells and its effect on oocyte development during in vitro maturation. Theriogenology. 2003; 59:1421–1433.
22. Nakahara K, Saito H, Saito T, Ito M, Ohta N, Sakai N, Tezuka N, Hiroi M, Watanabe H. Incidence of apoptotic bodies in membrana granulosa of the patients participating in an in vitro fertilization program. Fertil Steril. 1997; 67:302–308.
23. Münsterberg A, Lovell-Badge R. Expression of the mouse anti-müllerian hormone gene suggests a role in both male and female sexual differentiation. Development. 1991; 113:613–624.
24. Salmon NA, Handyside AH, Joyce IM. Oocyte regulation of anti-Müllerian hormone expression in granulosa cells during ovarian follicle development in mice. Dev Biol. 2004; 266:201–208.
Full Text Links
  • JKMS
Actions
Cited
CITED
export Copy
Close
Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
Similar articles
Copyright © 2024 by Korean Association of Medical Journal Editors. All rights reserved.     E-mail: koreamed@kamje.or.kr