Regulation of ovarian function: the role of anti-Müllerian hormone.
Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), also known as Müllerian inhibiting substance, is a member of the transforming growth factor beta superfamily of growth and differentiation factors. In contrast to other members of the family, which exert a broad range of functions in multiple tissues, the principal function of AMH is to induce regression of the Müllerian ducts during male sex differentiation. However, the patterns of expression of AMH and its type II receptor in the postnatal ovary indicate that AMH may play an important role in ovarian folliculogenesis. This review describes several in vivo and in vitro studies showing that AMH participates in two critical selection points of follicle development: it inhibits the recruitment of primordial follicles into the pool of growing follicles and also decreases the responsiveness of growing follicles to FSH.
Durlinger
Alexandra L L
AL
Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC, PO Box 1738, 3000 DR Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Durlinger@endov.fgg.eur.nl
Visser
Jenny A
JA
Themmen
Axel P N
AP
D000818:Animals; D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D003864:Depression, Chemical; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D015870:Gene Expression; D006023:Glycoproteins; D006106:Granulosa Cell Tumor / Q000175:diagnosis; D006107:Granulosa Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D006131:Growth Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009095:Mullerian Ducts / Q000196:embryology*; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D010053:Ovary / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D018000:Receptors, Peptide / Q000378:metabolism; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D013735:Testicular Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*
D015415:Biomarkers; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D006023:Glycoproteins; D006131:Growth Inhibitors; D018000:Receptors, Peptide; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta; D013735:Testicular Hormones; C084621:anti-Mullerian hormone receptor; D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone