Anti-Mullerian hormone in queens: Serum concentrations and total ovarian follicle population

The objectives of this study were: a) To report anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) serum concentrations in neonatal, pre and postpubertal female cats. b) To establish the relationship between serum AMH with either age and estrous cycle c) To correlate the total number of different ovarian follicle types with AMH in adult queens. A single blood sample was collected from 10 neonates (including 5 male), 15 prepubertal and 48 postpubertal female cats to measure AMH. Eight, 10, and 18 of this latter group were in follicular (FP), luteal phase (LP), and anestrus (AN), respectively. The total number of each follicle type was his-tologically counted using the Gougeon and Chainy (1987) formula in a subgroup of 10 adult queens. Overall AMH mean of these the female cats was 6.31 +/- 0.54 ng/mL. The neonatal females had lower AMH serum concentrations than their male littermates (2.56 +/- 0.49 vs. >23 ng/mL; P < 0.01). Concentrations were also higher in prepubertal than in neonatal and postpubertal cats (11.79 +/- 1.36 vs. 2.56 +/- 0.49 vs. 4.87 +/- 0.38 ng/mL; P < 0.01). Queens below 12 mo of age had the highest AMH levels (10.41 +/- 1.16; P < 0.01). Age was inversely correlated with AMH (r =-0.5; P < 0.01). Animals in FP had lower AMH concentrations than AN females (2.51 +/- 0.33 vs. 5.46 +/- 0.76 ng/mL; P < 0.05). No difference in the total number of each follicle type were found between either ovary (P > 0.05). A high correlation was only found between small antral follicles and AMH concentrations (r = 0.85; P < 0.01). It was concluded, that AMH can provide an indirect, reliable marker for the assessment of ovarian follicle size and functionality. Age as well as pubertal state should be considered when evaluating AMH concentrations in this species. (c) 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The objectives of this study were to report the AMH serum concentrations in female cats at different developmental stages, establish the relationship between serum AMH and age or estrous cycle, and correlate the total number of ovarian follicle types with AMH in adult queens. The results showed that neonatal females had lower AMH serum concentrations than males, and AMH levels increased from neonatal to prepubertal and postpubertal stages. Age was inversely correlated with AMH, and AMH concentrations were lower in females in the follicular phase compared to anestrus females. Small antral follicles had a high correlation with AMH concentrations. It was concluded that AMH can serve as an indirect marker for assessing ovarian follicle size and functionality, and age and pubertal state should be considered when evaluating AMH concentrations in cats.