title: Anti Müllerian Hormone (AMH) level and expression in mural and cumulus cells in relation to age.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Serum AMH is declining with age and is highly associated with ovarian follicular reserve and disordered folliculogenesis. However, the precise role of AMH in the process of human follicular aging has still to be determined.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study investigates AMH level in the follicular fluid (FF) and mRNA expression pattern in cumulus and mural granulosa cells of human ovarian follicles in relation to age.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a prospective study. Sixty-eight women undergoing In vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment were enrolled in the study. We obtained FF, mural and cumulus granulosa cells from large preovulatory follicles (17-20 mm) of 21-35 years old women (n = 40) and 40-45 years old women (n = 28) during oocyte pickup.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Higher level of AMH mRNA expression in cumulus cells was observed in the older age group compared to the younger (P <0.01). In accordance with AMH mRNA expression results, FF AMH protein levels were significantly higher in the older group than in the younger group (4.7 ± 1.1 ng\ml and 2.3 ± 0.2 ng\ml respectively, p < 0.002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AMH is highly expressed and secreted from cumulus GCs of advanced age patients. This remarkable correlation between AMH mRNA levels in cumulus cells in respect to age suggests that AMH may be involved in follicular aging process.
authors.affiliation: IVF unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, affiliated with the Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel. kedem2001@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Alon
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kedem
authors.forename: Yuval
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yung
authors.forename: Gil M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Yerushalmi
authors.forename: Jigal
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Haas
authors.forename: Ettie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Maman
authors.forename: Mirit
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hanochi
authors.forename: Rina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hemi
authors.forename: Raoul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Orvieto
authors.forename: Jehoshua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dor
authors.forename: Ariel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hourvitz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000375:Aging; D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D054885:Cumulus Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods; D015571:Follicular Fluid / Q000378:metabolism*; D006107:Granulosa Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D054315:Oocyte Retrieval; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone