| Objective: Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) is a | | | | Design: Effects of AMH in the absence and |
| member of the transforming growth factor-? | | | | presence of cAMP were studied in primary |
| (TGF-?) family. Within the ovary AMH is produced | | | | luteinized hGCs obtained during in vitro fertilization |
| solely by granulosa cells and plays an important | | | | cycles and in the immortalized human granulosa |
| role in regulation of ovarian follicle growth. In | | | | cell line, HGL5. |
| mouse ovary, AMH has been found to inhibit | | | | Materials and Methods: hGCs were cultured +/- |
| recruitment of primordial follicles into the pool of | | | | dibutyryl cAMP (1 mM), +/- AMH (5-100 ng/ml) |
| growing follicles and decreases the sensitivity of | | | | for 24-48h. RNA was isolated, |
| small pre-antral follicles to FSH. Along with its | | | | reversed-transcribed and real-time PCR was |
| pivotal role in follicular development, AMH serves | | | | performed to measure mRNA transcripts for |
| as a putative marker of ovarian reserve and of | | | | aromatase containing the ovary-specific first exon |
| assisted reproductive technology outcome. | | | | (CYP19IIa) and for AMH. |
| Aromatase cytochrome P450 (encoded by the | | | | Results: In HGL5 cells, cAMP caused a ~40-fold |
| CYP19 gene) is the key enzyme in the | | | | induction of CYP19IIa mRNA. While AMH (25 ng |
| biosynthesis of estrogens from C19-steroid | | | | ml) alone had a modest stimulatory effect |
| precursors. Previous animal studies have shown | | | | (~1.5-fold), co-treatment with AMH + cAMP |
| that AMH inhibits the expression of aromatase in | | | | caused a synergistic ~75-fold increase in CYP19IIa |
| fetal ovaries; however, the effect of AMH on | | | | mRNA levels. In primary cultures of hGCs, basal |
| aromatase in postnatal human ovaries is not well | | | | CYP19IIa mRNA levels were elevated; cAMP |
| understood. The objective of the present study | | | | caused a ~2.5-fold increase in CYP19IIa mRNA, |
| was to investigate the effects of AMH on the | | | | while AMH had a moderate stimulatory effect |
| expression of aromatase in human granulosa cells | | | | (1.5-fold). In cells co-treated with AMH + cAMP, |
| (hGCs). | | | | CYP19IIa mRNA levels were increased ~3.5-fold. |