Anti-Mullerian hormone is increased in follicular fluid from unstimulated ovaries in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.
BACKGROUND
Anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) may have a role in disordered folliculogenesis in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Though there have been several investigations into circulating AMH levels in patients with PCOS, no previous studies have compared AMH concentrations in the follicular fluid of unstimulated ovaries in women with PCOS with that of normally ovulating women.


METHODS
Follicular fluid was aspirated from 4-8-mm follicles of unstimulated ovaries during routine laparoscopy or laparotomy from women with anovulatory PCOS (n = 11) and those with regular ovulatory cycles (n = 8). Follicular AMH was compared in the two groups. Serum samples were analysed for AMH and endocrine profile.


RESULTS
Follicular fluid AMH levels were significantly higher (P < 0.0001) in women with anovulatory PCOS (median: 466.2 ng/ml) compared with normal-ovulatory controls (median: 78.0 ng/ml). Mean follicular fluid AMH levels in PCOS patients were 60 times higher than in the serum. Moreover, there was a significant correlation between the follicular fluid and serum concentrations of AMH in the PCOS group (r = 0.86; P = 0.007) but not in controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Highly elevated AMH in follicular fluid from PCOS patients in contrast to age-matched normal controls suggests that increased circulating concentrations of AMH are partly due to the increased production of AMH by individual follicles and not simply attributable to the increased number of small antral follicles. This suggests an intrinsic abnormality in the ovarian follicles themselves in PCOS, which could contribute to disordered folliculogenesis.
Academic Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Barts and The London, The Royal London Hospital, School of Medicine, University of London, Whitechapel, London E1 1BB, UK.
M
M
Das
D J
DJ
Gillott
E
E
Saridogan
O
O
Djahanbakhch
D000328:Adult; D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D015571:Follicular Fluid / Q000378:metabolism*; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D010053:Ovary / Q000378:metabolism; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism*
D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone