Overview of Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and association with fertility in female cattle

Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is produced by granulosa cells of early-antral follicles found on the ovary. After production, it enters circulation and can be detected from a blood sample with an ELISA. Multiple works have found that circulating AMH is a reliable marker of the antral follicle population (AFP) of an animal as well as directly correlated to an animal's response to a superovulation protocol. Research has also found high repeatability within an animal's oestrous cycle. Further use of AMH may be valuable as a reproductive management tool, based on previous research linking productive life with circulating AMH in heifers and success to various breeding protocols by AMH concentration. The aim of this review was to summarize previous works describing basic function of AMH as well as explore recent research examining AMH as a reproductive tool and measurement of fertility in dairy animals.     

Expressions of cytochrome P450 aromatase and anti-Müllerian hormone in testes of fattening pigs by the timing of the first vaccination for immunocastration

In practice, two injections of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) vaccine are recommended for pig immunocastration for effective outcomes. The present study aimed to investigate the expressions of cytochrome P450 aromatase (P450_arom) and anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) in testes, testicular length and testicular histomorphometry of the fattening pigs receiving the first injection of GnRH vaccine 6 weeks earlier than the standard protocol. Based on vaccination protocol, 24 pigs were equally divided into three groups: T1 was vaccinated at 15 and 19 weeks of age, T2 received vaccine at 9 and 19 weeks of age and C remained intact. P450_arom and AMH expressions were analysed using immunohistochemistry and Western blot. The results revealed that testicular length was highest in C pigs, but not different between T1 and T2 groups (6.5 ± 0.2 versus 6.9 ± 0.3 cm, p = .538). Histomorphometry demonstrated that the height of spermatogenic epithelia, the diameter of seminiferous tubules and the number of seminiferous tubules between T1 and T2 groups were not different (p > .05). For P450_arom, immunohistochemistry revealed that H-score of C group was significantly higher than that of both T1 and T2 groups. Western blot analysis showed that C group possessed the densest protein band. Moreover, H-score between T1 and T2 groups was not significantly different. Protein band intensity between both groups was not apparently different. As for AMH, C pigs had significantly lower H-score than both T1 and T2 pigs. Furthermore, T2 pigs possessed significantly higher H-score than T1 pigs. Western blot analysis showed that the most intense protein band was found in T2 group. In summary, GnRH vaccine affected testicular development and functions. The first injection could be performed either at 9 or 15 weeks of age since both protocols contributed to comparable results in aspect of testicular length, histomorphometry and expressions of P450_arom and AMH.     

Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) profiles as a novel biomarker to evaluate the existence of a functional cryptorchid testis in Japanese Black calves

Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and testosterone (T) profiles in blood were investigated before and after an hCG stimulation test to assess their sensitivity and specificity for the existence of a functional cryptorchid testis in Japanese Black calves. The hCG (3,000 IU) was administered on Day 0, and peripheral blood was collected on Days 0 (just before hCG injection), 5 and 7 in intact male calves (Intact; n=19), bilateral castrated calves (Castrated; n=17), unilateral cryptorchid calves, which abdominal testis could been extracted (Uni-crypto; n=9). Castration of a descended testis was carried in the Castrated and Uni-Crypto groups on Day -14. The AMH detectability and the optimum cut-off point for T levels using the receiver operating characteristic curve were verified to characterize the cryptorchid testis. AMH values on Day 0 were 21.1 ± 5.1 and 29.0 ± 7.5 ng/ml in the Intact and Uni-crypto groups, respectively (Mean ± SEM). AMH levels were under the detection limit in the Castrated group (i.e., < 0.006 ng/ml). T showed its peak levels on Day 5 in the Intact group (26.8 ± 4.2 ng/ml), while it remained low in the Castrated group (< 0.9 ng/ml) and did not show a significant difference in the Uni-crypto group. The detectable levels for AMH was 0.006 ng/ml, and the optimum cut-off point for T was 0.9 ng/ml; the sensitivity and specificity for evaluation of testicular descent into the scrotum were 1.0 for both the AMH and T levels. The detection rates in the Uni-crypto group using them were 1.0 and 0.57 for AMH on Day 0 and T on Days 5 or 7, respectively. In conclusion, plasma AMH profiles could be used as a novel biomarker to evaluate the existence of a functional cryptorchid testis in Japanese Black calves.     

Growth and the plasma concentrations of growth hormone and prolactin in chicks: Effects of “environmental enrichment”, sex and strain

1. The effects of including novel objects in the environment ("environmental enrichment “) on body‐weight gain, relative body‐weight gain, gain : food ratio, plasma growth hormone (GH) and prolactin concentrations in male and female broiler and layer chicks was investigated.

2. Environmental enrichment improved body‐weight gain, relative body‐weight gain and gain: food ratio but had no effect on circulating GH or prolactin concentrations.

3. Weight gain and gain : food ratio were greater in the broilers than in the layer chicks, while plasma GH and prolactin (females only) concentrations were less.

4. There were no sex differences in weight gain and relative weight gain but gain : food ratio was significantly greater in females than in males. In both strains plasma GH concentrations were higher in males than in females and prolactin concentrations were higher in male than in female broilers.     

Effects of sex‐linked imperfect albinism in the chicken (s al‐c) on plasma luteinising hormone concentrations and early egg production

1. When measured before and after the onset of darkness, plasma LH concentrations in 40‐day‐old sex‐linked albino pullets (s^al‐c ) were slightly lower than those of nonalbinos (s ⁺ ).

2. This finding prompted an experiment in which plasma LH concentrations were measured between 12 and 33 weeks of age when daylength was increased at 15 or 21 weeks. Egg production of the early and late maturing albino hens was measured.

3. Plasma LH concentrations overall and at 17 weeks were lower for albinos than for nonalbinos. In the early maturing group egg production of albinos was higher than that of nonalbinos.

4. Results suggest that increased egg production of albinos is not the direct result of differences in plasma LH concentrations but may be a consequence of differences in the control of LH secretion.     

Relationship between the peripheral concentrations of estradiol-17β (E2) and preovulatory characteristics of cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) during superovulation treatment in Japanese Black cows

The relationship between the peripheral concentrations of estradiol-17β (E(2)) and the preovulatory characteristics of cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs) during superovulation treatment was investigated in Japanese Black cows. A superovulation regimen with FSH treatment in a descending manner was commenced on day 7 (n=3) or day 10 (n=2) of the estrous cycle (day 0=estrus). Peripheral blood was collected to measure E(2) concentrations twice a day throughout the treatment. Ovariectomies were performed at 100 h after the initial FSH treatment in five cows. Every follicle more than 8 mm in diameter was isolated from the ovaries, and cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were gently aspirated. The COCs were then separated into three groups based on the characteristics of the cumulus (compact, expanded and denuded) and subgrouped based on the stage of the nucleus in the oocytes (GV, GVBD). Plasma E(2) concentrations tended to increase gradually and reached the peak level at around 84 h (E(2)-84: n=3) or 96 h (E(2)-96: n=2) after the initial FSH treatment. The ratio of COCs with expanded cumulus was significantly higher in E(2)-84 than in E(2)-96 (P<0.01). However, there was no difference in the ratio of oocytes showing GVBD between E(2)-84 and E(2)-96 (P=0.73), and the characteristics of the cumulus did not affect the stage of the nucleus in the oocytes in either groups (compact, expanded and nude; P=0.61, 0.81 and 1.00). It was possible that the time until the peak plasma E(2) concentrations after the FSH treatment could become an indicator for the maturation of follicles and oocytes in preovulatory follicles during superovulation treatment in Japanese Black cows.     

Changes in the plasma concentrations of prolactin,luteinising hormone,progesterone and d‐(β)‐hydroxybutyrate in turkey hens (meleagris gallopavo), during treatment of broodiness under commercial conditions

1. An experiment was done under commercial conditions to investigate the physiological effects of isolating broody turkey hens, for 72 h, in sand and wire floored pens on the third, 10th and 16th weeks of production.

2. Hens identified as broody and removed from the flock had higher plasma prolactin concentrations than the laying hens at each of the three experimental stages.

3. Confinement in sand and wire floored pens, induced a decline in plasma prolactin concentrations. This decline probably impeded immediate development of broody behaviour. Alternately, levels of prolactin higher than those of laying hens were again measured 7 and 14 days after treatment during third week but not after the 10 th and 16th week of production.

4. Confinement did not induce consistent changes in luteinising hormone (LH) and progesterone concentrations from one period to an other.

5. An increase in the plasma concentration of D‐(/?)‐hydroxybutyrate was observed in the hens which had an egg present in the oviduct on day 2, 3 and/or 4 of the treatment. Subsequently, a decrease in ovulation rate was observed in the hens with higher concentrations of D‐(β)‐hydroxybutyrate while under treatment, during the 10th week of production.

6. These data confirm that the effectiveness of the traditional methods for broodiness prevention under commercial conditions is related to the induction of a decrease of prolactin.