title: Systemic and local anti-Mullerian hormone reflects differences in the reproduction potential of Zebu and European type cattle.
abstract: This study was conducted to evaluate plasma anti-Mullerian hormone (Pl AMH), follicular fluid AMH (FF AMH) and granulosa cell AMH transcript (GC AMH) levels and their relationships with reproductive parameters in two cattle subspecies, Bos taurus indicus (Zebu), and Bos taurus taurus (European type cattle). Two-dimensional ultrasound examination and serum collection were performed on Zebu, European type and crossbreed cows to determine antral follicle count (AFC), ovary diameter (OD) and Pl AMH concentration. Slaughterhouse ovaries for Zebu and European type cattle were collected to determine FF AMH concentrations, GC AMH RNA levels, AFC, oocyte number, cleavage and blastocyst rate. Additionally GC AMH receptor 2 (AMHR2) RNA level was measured for European type cattle. Relationship between AMH and reproductive parameters was found to be significantly greater in Zebu compared to European cattle. Average Pl AMH mean ± SE for Zebu and European cattle was 0.77 ± 0.09 and 0.33 ± 0.24 ng/ml respectively (p = 0.01), whereas average antral FF AMH mean ± SE for Zebu and European cattle was 4934.3 ± 568.5 and 2977.9 ± 214.1 ng/ml respectively (p < 0.05). This is the first published report of FF and GC AMH in Zebu cattle. Levels of GC AMHR2 RNA in European cattle were correlated to oocyte number (p = 0.01). Crossbred animals were found more similar to their maternal Zebu counterparts with respect to their Pl AMH to AFC and OD relationships. These results demonstrate that AMH reflects differences between reproduction potential of the two cattle subspecies therefore can potentially be used as a reproductive marker. Furthermore these results reinforce the importance of separately considering the genetic backgrounds of animals when collecting or interpreting bovine AMH data for reproductive performance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada.
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stojsin-Carter
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada.
authors.forename: Kiana
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mahboubi
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Rua Augusto Corrêa 1, Belém, PA 66075-110, Brazil.
authors.forename: Nathalia N
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: School of Computer Science, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada.
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Gillis
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada.
authors.forename: Timothy F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.affiliation: ONE Fertility, 3210 Harvester Rd, Burlington, ON L7N 3T1, Canada.
authors.forename: Michael S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Neal
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Rua Augusto Corrêa 1, Belém, PA 66075-110, Brazil.
authors.forename: Moyses S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Miranda
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Rua Augusto Corrêa 1, Belém, PA 66075-110, Brazil.
authors.forename: Otavio M
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Ohashi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada.
authors.forename: Laura A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Favetta
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada. Electronic address: waking@uoguelph.ca.
authors.forename: W Allan
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: King
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D002417:Cattle / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D015571:Follicular Fluid / Q000737:chemistry; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D006107:Granulosa Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D012098:Reproduction / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone
keywords: Anti-Mullerian hormone; European type cattle; Follicular fluid; Granulosa cell; Plasma; Zebu cattle