help button home button Endocrine Society JCEM
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS

This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit a related Letter to the Editor
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Request Copyright Permission
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Rey, R. A.
Right arrow Articles by Josso, N.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Rey, R. A.
Right arrow Articles by Josso, N.
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism Vol. 84, No. 2 627-631
Copyright © 1999 by The Endocrine Society


Original Studies

Evaluation of Gonadal Function in 107 Intersex Patients by Means of Serum Antimüllerian Hormone Measurement1

Rodolfo A. Rey, Corinne Belville, Claire Nihoul-Fékété, Laurence Michel-Calemard, Maguelone G. Forest, Najiba Lahlou, Francis Jaubert, Irène Mowszowicz, Michel David, Nurcin Saka, Claire Bouvattier, Anne-Marie Bertrand, Claudine Lecointre, Sylvie Soskin, Sylvie Cabrol, Hélène Crosnier, Juliane Léger, Stephen Lortat-Jacob, Marc Nicolino, Wolfgang Rabl, Sergio P. A. Toledo, Firdevs Bas, Anne Gompel, Paul Czernichow, Pierre Chatelain, Raphaël Rappaport, Yves Morel and Nathalie Josso

Unité de Recherches sur l’Endocrinologie du Développement (R.A.R., C.Be., N.J.), INSERM, Ecole Normale Supérieure, 92120 Montrouge, France; Services de Chirurgie Pédiatrique (C.N.-F., S.L.-J.), Endocrinologie Pédiatrique (R.R.), Anatomie Pathologique (F.J.) and Biochimie B (I.M.), Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, 75015 Paris, France; Service d’Endocrinologie Pédiatrique (C.Bo., N.J.) and Laboratoire de Biologie Hormonale (N.L.), Hôpital Saint Vincent de Paul, 75014 Paris, France; Service d’Endocrinologie et Diabétologie Pédiatrique (J.L., P.Cz.), Hôpital Robert Debré, 75019 Paris, France; Service d’Explorations Fonctionnelles Endocriniennes (S.C.), Hôpital Armand Trousseau, 75012 Paris, France; Service de Gynécologie-Obstétrique (A.G.), Hôpital Hôtel-Dieu, 75004 Paris, France; Unité de Recherches sur la Pathologie Hormonale Moléculaire, INSERM (L.M.-C., M.G.F., Y.M.), and Service d’Endocrinologie et Diabétologie Infantiles (M.N., P.Ch.), Hôpital Debrousse, 69005 Lyon, France; Service de Pédiatrie (M.D.), Centre Hospitalier Lyon Sud, 69495 Pierre-Bénite, France; Service de Pédiatrie 1 (A.-M.B.), Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, 25030 Besançon, France; Clinique de Pédiatrie (C.L.), Hôpital Charles Nicolle, 76000 Rouen, France; Service de Pédiatrie (S.S.), Hôpital de Hautepierre, 67098 Strasbourg, France; Service de Pédiatrie (H.C.), CHI Poissy - Saint Germain en Laye, 78104 Saint Germain en Laye, France; Institute of Child Health (N.S.) and Department of Pediatric Endocrinology (F.V.), University of Istanbul, 34390 Istanbul, Turkey; Kinderklinik und Poliklinik der Technischen Universität (W.R.), 80804 Munich, Germany; and Unidade de Endocrinologia Genética LIM-25 (S.P.A.T.), Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, 01266-900 São Paulo, Brazil

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Dr. Rodolfo Rey, Present address for reprint requests: Centro de Investigaciones Endocrinológicas, Hospital de Niños, Gallo 1330, (1425) Buenos Aires, Argentina. E-mail: rodolforey{at}infovia.com.ar

Fetal male sexual differentiation is driven by two testicular hormones: testosterone (synthesized by interstitial Leydig cells) and antimüllerian hormone (AMH; produced by Sertoli cells present in the seminiferous tubules). Intersex states result either from gonadal dysgenesis, in which both Leydig and Sertoli cell populations are affected, or from impaired secretion or action of either testosterone or AMH. Until now, only Leydig cell function has been assessed in children with ambiguous genitalia, by means of testosterone assay.

To determine whether serum AMH would help in the diagnosis of intersex conditions, we assayed serum AMH levels in 107 patients with ambiguous genitalia of various etiologies. In XY patients, AMH was low when the intersex condition was caused by abnormal testicular determination (including pure and partial gonadal dysgenesis) but was normal or elevated in patients with impaired testosterone secretion, whereas serum testosterone was low in both groups. AMH was also elevated during the first year of life and at puberty in intersex states caused by androgen insensitivity. In 46,XX patients with a normal male phenotype or ambiguous genitalia, in whom the diagnosis of female pseudohermaphroditism had been excluded, serum AMH levels higher than 75 pmol/L were indicative of the presence of testicular tissue and correlated with the mass of functional testicular parenchyma.

In conclusion, serum AMH determination is a powerful tool to assess Sertoli cell function in children with intersex states, and it helps to distinguish between defects of male sexual differentiation caused by abnormal testicular determination and those resulting from isolated impairment of testosterone secretion or action.




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
P. Bougneres, M. Francois, L. Pantalone, D. Rodrigue, C. Bouvattier, E. Demesteere, D. Roger, and N. Lahlou
Effects of an Early Postnatal Treatment of Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism with a Continuous Subcutaneous Infusion of Recombinant Follicle-Stimulating Hormone and Luteinizing Hormone
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., June 1, 2008; 93(6): 2202 - 2205.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Toxicol PatholHome page
M. J. Goedken, R. L. Kerlin, and D. Morton
Spontaneous and Age-Related Testicular Findings in Beagle Dogs
Toxicol Pathol, April 1, 2008; 36(3): 465 - 471.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
R. Coutant, D. Mallet, N. Lahlou, N. Bouhours-Nouet, A. Guichet, L. Coupris, A. Croue, and Y. Morel
Heterozygous Mutation of Steroidogenic Factor-1 in 46,XY Subjects May Mimic Partial Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., August 1, 2007; 92(8): 2868 - 2873.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Hum Reprod UpdateHome page
A. L. Marca and A. Volpe
The Anti-Mullerian hormone and ovarian cancer
Hum. Reprod. Update, May 1, 2007; 13(3): 265 - 273.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
I. Bergada, C. Milani, P. Bedecarras, L. Andreone, M. G. Ropelato, S. Gottlieb, C. Bergada, S. Campo, and R. A. Rey
Time Course of the Serum Gonadotropin Surge, Inhibins, and Anti-Mullerian Hormone in Normal Newborn Males during the First Month of Life
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., October 1, 2006; 91(10): 4092 - 4098.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
R. A. Rey, E. Codner, G. Iniguez, P. Bedecarras, R. Trigo, C. Okuma, S. Gottlieb, I. Bergada, S. M. Campo, and F. G. Cassorla
Low Risk of Impaired Testicular Sertoli and Leydig Cell Functions in Boys with Isolated Hypospadias
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., November 1, 2005; 90(11): 6035 - 6040.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
M. M. Grumbach
A Window of Opportunity: The Diagnosis of Gonadotropin Deficiency in the Male Infant
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., May 1, 2005; 90(5): 3122 - 3127.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
J. Young, P. Chanson, S. Salenave, M. Noel, S. Brailly, M. O'Flaherty, G. Schaison, and R. Rey
Testicular Anti-Mullerian Hormone Secretion Is Stimulated by Recombinant Human FSH in Patients with Congenital Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., February 1, 2005; 90(2): 724 - 728.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Hum ReprodHome page
P. Oppelt, P.L. Strissel, A. Kellermann, S. Seeber, A. Humeny, M.W. Beckmann, and R. Strick
DNA sequence variations of the entire anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) gene promoter and AMH protein expression in patients with the Mayer-Rokitanski-Kuster-Hauser syndrome
Hum. Reprod., January 1, 2005; 20(1): 149 - 157.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
G. Vinci, M.-N. Anjot, C. Trivin, H. Lottmann, R. Brauner, and K. McElreavey
An Analysis of the Genetic Factors Involved in Testicular Descent in a Cohort of 14 Male Patients with Anorchia
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., December 1, 2004; 89(12): 6282 - 6285.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Arch. Dis. Child.Home page
A L Ogilvy-Stuart and C E Brain
Early assessment of ambiguous genitalia
Arch. Dis. Child., May 1, 2004; 89(5): 401 - 407.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Mol. Endocrinol.Home page
C. Belville, H. Van Vlijmen, C. Ehrenfels, B. Pepinsky, A. R. Rezaie, J.-Y. Picard, N. Josso, N. d. Clemente, and R. L. Cate
Mutations of the Anti-Mullerian Hormone Gene in Patients with Persistent Mullerian Duct Syndrome: Biosynthesis, Secretion, and Processing of the Abnormal Proteins and Analysis Using a Three-Dimensional Model
Mol. Endocrinol., March 1, 2004; 18(3): 708 - 721.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Mol. Endocrinol.Home page
C. Lukas-Croisier, C. Lasala, J. Nicaud, P. Bedecarras, T. R. Kumar, M. Dutertre, M. M. Matzuk, J.-Y. Picard, N. Josso, and R. Rey
Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Increases Testicular Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) Production through Sertoli Cell Proliferation and a Nonclassical Cyclic Adenosine 5'-Monophosphate-Mediated Activation of the AMH Gene
Mol. Endocrinol., April 1, 2003; 17(4): 550 - 561.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
M. Misra, D. T. MacLaughlin, P. K. Donahoe, and M. M. Lee
The Role of Mullerian Inhibiting Substance in the Evaluation of Phenotypic Female Patients with Mild Degrees of Virilization
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., February 1, 2003; 88(2): 787 - 792.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
PediatricsHome page
C. J. Migeon, A. B. Wisniewski, T. R. Brown, J. A. Rock, H. F. L. Meyer-Bahlburg, J. Money, and G. D. Berkovitz
46,XY Intersex Individuals: Phenotypic and Etiologic Classification, Knowledge of Condition, and Satisfaction With Knowledge in Adulthood
Pediatrics, September 1, 2002; 110(3): e32 - 32.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
M. Misra, D. T. MacLaughlin, P. K. Donahoe, and M. M. Lee
Measurement of Mullerian Inhibiting Substance Facilitates Management of Boys with Microphallus and Cryptorchidism
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., August 1, 2002; 87(8): 3598 - 3602.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Endocr. Rev.Home page
J. Teixeira, S. Maheswaran, and P. K. Donahoe
Mullerian Inhibiting Substance: An Instructive Developmental Hormone with Diagnostic and Possible Therapeutic Applications
Endocr. Rev., October 1, 2001; 22(5): 657 - 674.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
R. Coutant, S. Lumbroso, R. Rey, N. Lahlou, M. Venara, S. Rouleau, C. Sultan, and J.-M. Limal
Macroorchidism due to Autonomous Hyperfunction of Sertoli Cells and Gs{{alpha}} Gene Mutation: An Unusual Expression of McCune-Albright Syndrome in a Prepubertal Boy
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., April 1, 2001; 86(4): 1778 - 1781.
[Abstract] [Full Text]


Home page
Arch. Dis. Child.Home page
P. I A HUGHES
How vulnerable is the developing testis to the external environment?
Arch. Dis. Child., October 1, 2000; 83(4): 281 - 282.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
W.-Q. Long, V. Ranchin, P. Pautier, C. Belville, P. Denizot, H. Cailla, C. Lhommé, J.-Y. Picard, J.-M. Bidart, and R. Rey
Detection of Minimal Levels of Serum Anti-Mullerian Hormone during Follow-Up of Patients with Ovarian Granulosa Cell Tumor by Means of a Highly Sensitive Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., February 1, 2000; 85(2): 540 - 544.
[Abstract] [Full Text]


Home page
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
K. Kubini, M. Zachmann, N. Albers, O. Hiort, M. Bettendorf, J. Wölfle, F. Bidlingmaier, and D. Klingmüller
Basal Inhibin B and the Testosterone Response to Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Correlate in Prepubertal Boys
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., January 1, 2000; 85(1): 134 - 138.
[Abstract] [Full Text]


Home page
Arch. Dis. Child.Home page
K L Ng, S F Ahmed, and I A Hughes
Pituitary-gonadal axis in male undermasculinisation
Arch. Dis. Child., January 1, 2000; 82(1): 54 - 58.
[Abstract] [Full Text]


Home page
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
J. Young, R. Rey, B. Couzinet, P. Chanson, N. Josso, and G. Schaison
Antimullerian Hormone in Patients with Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., August 1, 1999; 84(8): 2696 - 2699.
[Abstract] [Full Text]


Home page
Hum ReprodHome page
P. Fenichel, R. Rey, S. Poggioli, M. Donzeau, D. Chevallier, and G. Pointis
Anti-Mullerian hormone as a seminal marker for spermatogenesis in non-obstructive azoospermia
Hum. Reprod., August 1, 1999; 14(8): 2020 - 2024.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]




HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Endocrinology Endocrine Reviews J. Clin. End. & Metab.
Molecular Endocrinology Recent Prog. Horm. Res. All Endocrine Journals
Copyright © 1999 by The Endocrine Society