Anti-Müllerian hormone initiates growth of human primordial follicles in vitro.
Survival and growth of follicles in human ovarian tissue is presently only performed with limited success. We evaluated the effect of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and/or testosterone on follicular growth during a 4-week culture period using ovarian cortical tissue from six women in their reproductive years. The cortex of each biopsy was isolated and immediately cryopreserved upon collection and stored in liquid nitrogen. After thawing the tissue was placed in culture. After the culture period all follicles were counted on histological sections and classified for viability and stage of development. Based on evaluation of 6603 follicles it was found that the number of growing follicles significantly increased during the culture period as compared to the uncultured control, irrespective of the composition of the culture medium. Furthermore, significantly more follicles advanced to the primary and secondary stage (p<0.05) in tissue cultured with AMH (54%) as compared to tissue cultured in control medium (41%). The mean diameter of follicles classified as primary follicles was significantly enhanced in tissue cultured in the presence of AMH (p=0.002) and AMH plus testosterone (p<0.001) as compared to that observed in tissue cultured with control medium and medium containing testosterone alone. In contrast the mean diameter of the oocyte and its nucleus remained similar irrespective of culture medium. In conclusion, AMH seems to affect early stages of human follicular development by enhancing recruitment, survival and/or growth during a 4-week culture period.
Schmidt
K L T
KL
The Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Section 5712, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark. tryde@dadlnet.dk
Kryger-Baggesen
N
N
Byskov
A G
AG
Andersen
C Yding
CY
D000328:Adult; D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development*; D013735:Testicular Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000502:physiology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology
D006023:Glycoproteins; D013735:Testicular Hormones; D013739:Testosterone; D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone