This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a related Letter to the Editor Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Copyright Permission Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Andersen, C. Y. Articles by Byskov, A. G. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Andersen, C. Y. Articles by Byskov, A. G. Related Collections Female Endocrinology

Estradiol and Regulation of Anti-Müllerian Hormone, Inhibin-A, and Inhibin-B Secretion: Analysis of Small Antral and Preovulatory Human Follicles’ Fluid

Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, The Juliane Marie Centre for Women, Children and Reproduction, University Hospital of Copenhagen, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Claus Yding Andersen, Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Section 5712, University Hospital of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 9, Rigshospitalet, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark. E-mail: yding{at}rh.dk.

Context: In ovaries surgically removed for fertility preservation, hormone concentrations in fluid from small antral follicles were determined. Levels were compared with those found in preovulatory follicular fluid.

Objective: The objective of this study is to measure intrafollicular concentrations of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), inhibin-A, inhibin-B, estradiol, and progesterone.

Setting: The study was set in a university hospital.

Patients: Patients were 22 women suffering from a cancer disease and 16 women undergoing assisted reproduction.

Interventions: Fluid from 35 follicles (diameter, 3–8 mm) was included and compared with that of 32 preovulatory follicles.

Main Outcome Measures: The main outcome measures were intrafollicular concentrations of the measured hormones and their possible correlation.

Results: Concentrations of AMH in small antral follicles were almost three orders of magnitude higher than in follicle fluid of preovulatory follicles, 790 ± 95 vs. 1.17 ± 0.14 ng/ml (mean ± SEM), respectively. There was a significant negative correlation between estradiol and AMH in fluid from small antral follicles, whereas inhibin-A and inhibin-B were correlated positively with estradiol concentrations. Progesterone showed a similar correlation to levels of AMH but only in fluid of preovulatory follicles.

Conclusions: The high expression of AMH in granulosa cells of small antral follicles actually translates into very high follicle fluid AMH concentrations. This most likely explains the correlation between serum AMH levels and the number of small antral follicles as previously demonstrated. The negative correlation between estradiol and AMH suggests that FSH down-regulates AMH expression. Thus, the microenvironment of the follicle shows profound changes with developmental stage and highlights the importance of studies to understand the mechanisms that regulate follicular growth and development during antral stages of development.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. La Marca, G. Sighinolfi, D. Radi, C. Argento, E. Baraldi, A. C. Artenisio, G. Stabile, and A. Volpe Anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) as a predictive marker in assisted reproductive technology (ART) Hum. Reprod. Update, September 30, 2009; (2009) dmp036v1. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. La Marca, F.J. Broekmans, A. Volpe, B.C. Fauser, N.S. Macklon, and on behalf of the ESHRE Special Interest Group for Anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH): what do we still need to know? Hum. Reprod., September 1, 2009; 24(9): 2264 - 2275. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Rico, S. Fabre, C. Medigue, N. d. Clemente, F. Clement, M. Bontoux, J.-L. Touze, M. Dupont, E. Briant, B. Remy, et al. Anti-Mullerian Hormone Is an Endocrine Marker of Ovarian Gonadotropin-Responsive Follicles and Can Help to Predict Superovulatory Responses in the Cow Biol Reprod, January 1, 2009; 80(1): 50 - 59. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Jayaprakasan, B.K. Campbell, J.F. Hopkisson, J.S. Clewes, I.R. Johnson, and N.J. Raine-Fenning Effect of pituitary desensitization on the early growing follicular cohort estimated using anti-Mullerian hormone Hum. Reprod., November 1, 2008; 23(11): 2577 - 2583. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. Monniaux, N. d. Clemente, J.-L. Touze, C. Belville, C. Rico, M. Bontoux, J.-Y. Picard, and S. Fabre Intrafollicular Steroids and Anti-Mullerian Hormone During Normal and Cystic Ovarian Follicular Development in the Cow Biol Reprod, August 1, 2008; 79(2): 387 - 396. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Yding Andersen, M. Rosendahl, and A. G. Byskov Concentration of Anti-Mullerian Hormone and Inhibin-B in Relation to Steroids and Age in Follicular Fluid from Small Antral Human Follicles J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., June 1, 2008; 93(6): 2344 - 2349. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Catteau-Jonard, P. Pigny, A.-C. Reyss, C. Decanter, E. Poncelet, and D. Dewailly Changes in Serum Anti-Mullerian Hormone Level during Low-Dose Recombinant Follicular-Stimulating Hormone Therapy for Anovulation in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., November 1, 2007; 92(11): 4138 - 4143. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. E. Kevenaar, A. P.N. Themmen, J. S.E. Laven, B. Sonntag, S. L. Fong, A. G. Uitterlinden, F. H. de Jong, H. A.P. Pols, M. Simoni, and J. A. Visser Anti-Mullerian hormone and anti-Mullerian hormone type II receptor polymorphisms are associated with follicular phase estradiol levels in normo-ovulatory women Hum. Reprod., June 1, 2007; 22(6): 1547 - 1554. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. S. Wachs, M. S. Coffler, P. J. Malcom, and R. J. Chang Serum Anti-Mullerian Hormone Concentrations Are Not Altered by Acute Administration of Follicle Stimulating Hormone in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and Normal Women J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., May 1, 2007; 92(5): 1871 - 1874. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]