title: Plasma anti-Müllerian hormone as a predictive endocrine marker to select Bos taurus (Holstein) and Bos indicus (Nelore) calves for in vitro embryo production.
abstract: This study evaluated the association between plasma anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) concentrations and in vitro embryo production in Bos indicus (Nelore; experiment 1) and Bos taurus (Holstein; experiment 2) calves superstimulated or not with 140 mg of porcine follicle-stimulating hormone (pFSH; 4 decreasing doses twice daily). Oocytes were recovered from calves aged 2 to 4 mo after receiving gonadotropin stimulation (Nelore, n = 15; Holstein, n = 12) or not (Nelore, n = 15; Holstein, n = 12). Cycling heifers formed a positive control group (n = 15 for Nelore [aged 18-24 mo], n = 10 for Holstein [aged 14-16 mo]). All the calves underwent laparoscopic ovum pickup, and cycling heifers underwent a regular transvaginal ultrasound-guided ovum pickup for oocyte recovery. Immediately before oocyte retrieval, blood samples were taken for subsequent AMH determination (ng/mL). Regardless of the genetic group, calves that received pFSH (3.6 ± 1.1 in Nelore and 4.6 ± 1.2 in Holstein) or did not receive pFSH (3.2 ± 1.0 in Nelore and 2.5 ± 0.8 in Holstein) had greater plasma AMH concentrations (P = 0.01 in Nelore and P = 0.003 in Holstein) than cycling heifers (1.1 ± 0.2 in Nelore and 0.6 ± 0.07 in Holstein). AMH concentrations in calves with or without pFSH were similar in both genetic groups (3.6 ± 1.1 vs 3.2 ± 1.0 in Nelore; 4.6 ± 1.2 vs 2.5 ± 0.8 in Holstein). In calves, positive correlations were observed between plasma AMH concentrations and the numbers of follicles >2 mm (r = 0.86, P < 0.0001 in Nelore; r = 0.78, P < 0.0001 in Holstein), cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) retrieved (r = 0.91, P < 0.0001 in Nelore; r = 0.82, P < 0.0001 in Holstein), COCs cultured (r = 0.71, P < 0.0001 in Nelore; r = 0.79, P < 0.0001 in Holstein), and blastocysts produced (r = 0.62, P = 0.0003 in Nelore; r = 0.58, P = 0.009 in Holstein), and these results were independent of pFSH treatment. In conclusion, calves had greater plasma AMH concentrations than cycling heifers. In addition, treatment with pFSH did not influence AMH concentrations in calves, regardless of the genetic group. More importantly, plasma AMH concentrations were positively correlated with the antral follicle population and the number of COCs retrieved, COCs cultured, and blastocysts produced in B indicus and B taurus calves. Therefore, AMH is a promising tool for selecting oocyte donor calves to maximize results during in vitro embryo production.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Reproduction, FMVZ-USP, Campus São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: emiliana.vra@usp.br.
authors.forename: E O S
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Batista
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Reproduction, FMVZ-USP, Campus São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Guerreiro
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Reproduction, FMVZ-USP, Campus São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: B G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Freitas
authors.affiliation: Embryo Sys, Ouro Fino, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: J C B
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Reproduction, FMVZ-USP, Campus São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Vieira
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Animal Sciences and Food Engineering, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga, Brazil.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Reproduction, FMVZ-USP, Campus São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Rezende
authors.affiliation: In Vitro Brasil Ltda, Mogi Mirim, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Basso
authors.affiliation: Genese Company, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: R N V R
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Production and Nutrition, FMVZ-USP Campus, Pirassununga, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: F P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Rennó
authors.affiliation: Ceva Santé Animale, Libourne, Gironde, França.
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Reproduction, FMVZ-USP, Campus São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Baruselli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000502:physiology; D002417:Cattle / Q000097:blood*; D002452:Cell Count; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D054885:Cumulus Cells / Q000502:physiology; D046149:Embryo Culture Techniques / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000662:veterinary*; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D054315:Oocyte Retrieval / Q000662:veterinary; D009865:Oocytes / Q000502:physiology; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000033:anatomy & histology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone
keywords: Anti-Müllerian hormone; Embryo yield; In vitro; Ovum pickup; Young donor