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This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 79/2/387    most recent biolreprod.107.065847v1 Alert me when this article is cited 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 Google Scholar Articles by Monniaux, D. Articles by Fabre, S. PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Monniaux, D. Articles by Fabre, S. Agricola Articles by Monniaux, D. Articles by Fabre, S.

Intrafollicular Steroids and Anti-Müllerian Hormone During Normal and Cystic Ovarian Follicular Development in the Cow¹

Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements,³ UMR 6175, INRA-CNRS-Université de Tours-Haras Nationaux, 37380 Nouzilly, France Endocrinologie et Génétique de la Reproduction et du Développement,⁴ UMR 782, INSERM-Universté Paris Sud, 92 140 Clamart, France

ABSTRACT

Development of follicular cysts is a frequent ovarian dysfunction in cattle. Functional changes that precede cyst formation are unknown, but a role for anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) in the development of follicular cysts has been suggested in humans. This study aimed to characterize intrafollicular steroids and AMH during follicular growth in a strain of beef cows exhibiting a high incidence of occurrence of follicular cysts. Normal follicular growth and cyst development were assessed by ovarian ultrasonography scanning during the 8 days before slaughtering. Experimental regression of cysts was followed by rapid growth of follicles that reached the size of cysts within 3–5 days. These young cysts exhibited higher intrafollicular concentrations of testosterone, estradiol-17beta, and progesterone than large early dominant follicles did in normal ovaries, but they exhibited similar concentrations of AMH. Later-stage cysts were characterized by hypertrophy of theca interna cells, high intrafollicular progesterone concentration, and high steroidogenic acute regulatory protein mRNA expression in granulosa cells. Progesterone and AMH concentrations in the largest follicles (10 mm) and cysts were negatively correlated (r == –0.45, P << 0.01). Smaller follicles (<<10 mm) exhibited higher intrafollicular testosterone and estradiol-17beta concentrations in ovaries with cysts compared to normal ovaries. During follicular growth, AMH concentration dropped in follicles larger than 5 mm in diameter and in a similar way in ovaries with and without cysts. In conclusion, enhanced growth and steroidogenesis in antral follicles <<10 mm preceded cyst formation in cow ovaries. Intrafollicular AMH was not a marker of cystic development in the cow, but low AMH concentrations in cysts were associated with luteinization.

anti-Müllerian hormone, follicle, follicular development, ovary, steroid hormones

¹Supported by the special funding "Crédits fléchés" of the INRA PHASE Department and the European contract SABRE C7-2006-001625.

Correspondence: ²Danielle Monniaux, Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, UMR 6175, INRA-CNRS-Université de Tours-Haras Nationaux, Centre INRA de Tours, 37380 Nouzilly, France. FAX: 33 47 42 77 43; e-mail: monniaux{at}tours.inra.fr