The development of a foetus into a male or female individual is dependent on the sex chromosomes it carries. During early embryonic development, however, all fetuses have phenotypically female genitalia. Eventually, at the 6th or 7th week of pregnancy, a gene present on the XY chromosome leads to the development of the fetus into a male. A hormone that takes part in this differentiation is the Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH). This hormone, as the name suggests, works to regress the Mullerian Ducts in the male foetus. The Mullerian ducts, also known as the Paramesonephric Ducts, eventually give rise to the female reproductive organs, namely the fallopian tube, the uterus, the cervix and the upper region of the vagina.
Let us learn more about this hormone and its significance in males and females
The Anti-Mullerian Hormone or AMH is a glycoprotein hormone secreted by the Sertoli cells in males, or by the ovarian follicles in females. This hormone causes inhibition of the Mullerian Ducts in the male embryo. It is also known as the Mullerian Inhibiting Factor (MIF) or the Mullerian Inhibiting Substance (MIS).
Anti-Mullerian Hormone inhibits the formation of the Mullerian ducts in the male embryo. The Mullerian Ducts are tissues formed in the fetus that give rise to the female reproductive tract. The FRT further develops into the oviducts, the uterus, the cervix and the vagina. In females, the AMH also represses the primordial follicle recruitment by the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH).
The AMH is important in the development of the sex organs in a foetus.
The expression of the Anti-Mullerian Hormone in the fetus determines the sexual differentiation of the fetus. Its expression occurs at a specific time during embryonic development.
In males, AMH secreted by the Sertoli cells suppresses the Mullerian ducts from developing into the female reproductive tract. Hence, the level of AMH in the blood is a marker of the proper functioning of the Sertoli cells
The AMH test measures the amount of AMH present in the blood. After puberty, the blood levels of AMH are used as an indication of fertility, menstrual disorders and ovarian cancer. In males, AMH
In females, the AMH is secreted by the growing granulosa cells of the ovaries. Hence, AMH levels in the blood could indicate the size of the primordial cell pool left in the ovarian reserve, making the AMH test a biomarker of ovarian ageing
AMH levels indicate the ability of a woman to get pregnant, as AMH is indicative of the number of eggs left in the ovary that can be fertilised. This is known as the ovarian reserve.
High levels of AMH in the blood indicate a high ovarian reserve, implying a greater ability of the woman to conceive. On the other hand, low levels of AMH imply a depleting ovarian reserve, which further indicates low chances of getting pregnant
Hence, women who are facing trouble in conceiving, are often prescribed an AMH test.
Additionally, the levels of AMH in the blood of females are also used as−
Indication of the beginning of menopause
Detection of causes of amenorrhea.
Diagnosis of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), which disrupts the ability of a woman to get pregnant, among other things
Monitoring the levels of AMH during ovarian cancer and its chemotherapy help in the detection and determination of whether treatments are effective
In male foetuses (i.e., those foetuses which carry the XY chromosome), the production of the anti-mullerian hormone is high. This promotes the development of the male sex organs by testosterone and represses the formation of the female reproductive tract.
The secretion of AMH is stimulated by the Follicle Stimulating Hormone, which binds to receptors on the Sertoli cells. The AMH then binds to its receptors known as AMH type II receptors, further inducing the apoptosis of the fetal cells of the Mullerian Ducts.
Low levels of AMH in male infants cause the genitals to not be fully male or female. This condition is referred to as pseudohermaphroditism or Persistent Mullerian duct syndrome. This condition may be a result of some mutations in the AMH genes or the genes of its receptors
The secretion of AMH is stimulated by the Follicle Stimulating Hormone, which binds to receptors on the Sertoli cells. The AMH then binds to its receptors known as AMH type II receptors, further inducing the apoptosis of the fetal cells of the Mullerian Ducts.
Persistent Mullerian Duct Syndrome leads to the development of female reproductive organs including the uterus, and the fallopian tubes. Such individuals have a fully functional male reproductive system. However, such males may suffer from cryptorchidism, which may cause inguinal hernia as well.
If the foetus has XX genes (assigned female at birth), a lesser amount of Anti-Mullerian hormone is produced. This permits the development of the Mullerian ducts, and subsequently, the formation of the oviducts, the uterus, the cervix and the upper part of the vagina
The anti-Mullerian hormone, when secreted from the ovaries, inhibits the stimulation of the primordial follicles to transform into the primary follicles
As seen in gene knockout experiments, the absence of the anti-Mullerian hormone leads to quicker recruitment of primordial follicles, and subsequent quicker exhaustion of the primary follicles, much before it happens in the wild-type animals
As expected, the anti-mullerian hormone also exerts an inhibitory effect on the FSH activity
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Low levels of AMH are common in post-menopausal women and pre-puberty girls. The levels of the Anti-Mullerian Hormone are the highest during adolescence in girls. It reaches its maximum levels at 22-25 years of age
The Anti-Mullerian Hormone (or AMH) is a crucial hormone that determines the development of the reproductive organs in both males and females
In males, the Sertoli cells secrete the AMH, after stimulation by the Follicle Stimulating Hormone
In males, the secretion of the AMH inhibits the development of Mullerian ducts. The Mullerian ducts develop into the female reproductive tract, including the uterus and the fallopian tube
In females, the AMH is expressed by the granulosa cells in the early stages of folliculogenesis
In females, the levels of AMH in the blood are indicative of the ability to get pregnant, or the window remaining for a couple to conceive.
High levels of AMH in males are indicative of Persistent Mullerian Duct Syndrome
Q1. How is Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome related to AMH?
Ans. High levels of AMH in a woman may be indicative of PCOS
Q2. What levels of AMH are considered normal?
Ans. In females, 1.0-3.0 ng AMH per millilitre of blood is considered normal
Q3. When is the Anti-Mullerian Hormone expressed in females?
Ans. In females, the expression of the Anti-Mullerian Hormone begins during the 25th week of pregnancy and goes on till the attainment of menopause
Q4. Which follicles exhibit the highest levels of AMH expression?
Ans. The preantral and the Graafian follicles show the highest expression of the AMH
Q5. What is the ovarian reserve at the time of birth? How many follicles remain in adolescence?
Ans. Around 1-2 million primordial follicles are present at birth, and by the time the female reaches adolescence, only 400,000 remain
Q6. Is the AMH the same as Inhibin?
Ans. No. Although the two hormones belong to the same family i.e., transforming growth factor-𝜷, and have a similar structure, the AMH serves to regress the Mullerian ducts, while inhibin is involved in the negative feedback control of FSH
Q7. What is the effect of testosterone on AMH?
Ans. AMH levels decrease with an increase in testosterone, especially during puberty
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