AMH Concentration and Gene Expression Level in Each Follicle and Their Relationship With Fertilization and Blastocyst...

The present study examined the relationship between Anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) concentrations in follicular fluid (FF) and AMH gene expression levels in granulosa cells (GCs) and the embryological outcomes of retrieved oocytes.

Patients who underwent intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment at our hospital were included. A total of 270 FF samples from 20 patients were used to evaluate AMH concentrations. A total of 140 GCs obtained during oocyte denudation for ICSI were used to assess AMH mRNA expression. The relationships between FF AMH concentrations or GC AMH mRNA expression levels and the maturity of the oocytes obtained, as well as fertilization and blastocyst arrival, were investigated.

FF AMH concentrations and GC AMH mRNA expression levels markedly varied among follicles. There was no correlation in the degree of variation in FF AMH concentration and GC AMH mRNA expression. Serum AMH concentrations correlated with mean FF AMH concentrations (r ² = 0.78, p < 0.05), whereas no correlation was observed between follicular size and the FF AMH concentration. FF AMH concentrations were significantly lower in fertilized oocytes than in unfertilized oocytes, whereas GC AMH mRNA expression levels did not correlate with clinical outcomes.

The FF AMH concentrations may be associated with oocyte fertilization capacity.