Anti-Müllerian hormone in men with normal and reduced sperm concentration and men with maldescended testes.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) in well-characterized men with normal and reduced sperm concentration and in men with a history of or persistent maldescended testes as a possible clinical marker of male factor infertility and/or maldescended testes.


METHODS
Retrospective analysis of 199 men selected from our database (Androbase).


METHODS
The university-based Institute of Reproductive Medicine.


METHODS
One hundred eight men with normal and 60 men with reduced sperm concentration without known cause of infertility and additionally 31 infertile men with current or former maldescended testes were evaluated.


METHODS
Serum AMH was analyzed by an in-house ELISA.


METHODS
Hormone and semen parameters were compared and correlated with AMH.


RESULTS
No significant differences were found in AMH levels. Only in men with maldescended testes did AMH correlate negatively with FSH and positively with testicular volume and sperm concentration. No correlations between AMH and LH or testosterone (T) were found.


CONCLUSIONS
Anti-Müllerian hormone serum levels are not significantly affected by impaired spermatogenesis in general but are correlated with spermatogenic parameters in men with current or former maldescended testes. Therefore, AMH measurement does not improve clinical routine diagnostics but should be evaluated further in patients with maldescended testes. Anti-Müllerian hormone might serve as a marker of Sertoli cell number, function, and/or maturation in these men.
Tüttelmann
Frank
F
Institute of Reproductive Medicine of the University, Münster, Germany.
Dykstra
Nina
N
Themmen
Axel P N
AP
Visser
Jenny A
JA
Nieschlag
Eberhard
E
Simoni
Manuela
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D003456:Cryptorchidism / Q000097:blood*; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000097:blood*; D007265:Inhibins / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013076:Sperm Count; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
C422364:inhibin B; D013739:Testosterone; D007265:Inhibins; D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone