Anti-Müllerian hormone is expressed and secreted by bovine oviducts and endometria epithelial cells

抄録

Recent studies suggest that Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) plays vital roles in the oviducts and endometria, influencing fertility. Old age is associated with decreased fertility, and several studies in women have linked aging to plasma AMH concentrations. In bovines, the AMH main receptors, AMHR2, are expressed in the epithelium of tunica mucosa of oviducts and in the epithelium of the endometrium in bovines. In this study, we investigated whether bovine oviducts and endometria also produce AMH (for paracrine and autocrine signaling). Furthermore, we also evaluated the association between oviductal/endometrial AMH local expression and various physiological factors, such as the stage of the estrous cycle, age, and breed. Finally, we evaluated the influence of age/breed in the oviduct and uterine horn fluids’ AMH concentration. Using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and western blotting, we detected AMH mRNA and protein expression in oviductal and endometrial tissues. Immunohistochemistry revealed robust AMH expression in the epithelium of the ampulla and isthmus, where also AMHR2 were expressed. Immunohistochemistry also showed a significant AMH expression in the glandular and luminal endometrial epithelium and stroma in caruncular endometria. We compared AMH mRNA and protein expression in the ampulla, isthmus, and caruncular and intercaruncular endometrium among old Holsteins (91.9 ± 6.4 months old) and young (26.6 ± 0.8 months old) and old (98.8 ± 10.2 months old) Japanese Black females, and observed no differences. We also compared AMH concentrations in the oviduct fluid and uterine horn fluid among the three groups (measured by immunoassays). The AMH concentration in the oviduct fluid, but not uterine horn fluid, of old Holsteins, was lower than in young and old Japanese Black females (P < 0.05). These results show that bovine oviducts and endometria express AMH, and likely secrete it into the oviduct and uterine fluids.