Anti-Müllerian hormone-mediated preantral follicle atresia is a key determinant of antral follicle count in mice

STUDY QUESTION: Does anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) induce preantral follicle atresia in mice? SUMMARY ANSWER: The present findings suggest that AMH-mediated follicle atresia only occurs in early follicles before they become sensitive to FSH. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Most prior studies have investigated the ability of AMH to inhibit primordial follicle activation. Our previous study showed that AMH-overexpressing mice had fewer preantral follicles than expected after accounting for primordial follicle inhibition but the reason for this was not determined. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: Cross-sectional—control versus transgenic/knockout mouse studies were carried out. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: Studies were conducted on female wild-type (Amh(+/+)), AMH-knockout (Amh(−/−)) and AMH overexpressing (Thy1.2-AMH(Tg/0)) mice on a C57Bl/6J background (age: 42–120 days). The follicle counts were conducted for primordial, transitioning, primary, secondary and antral follicles in Amh(−/−) and Amh(+/+) mice. After confirming that follicle development speeds were identical (proliferating cell nuclear antigen immunohistochemistry), the ratio of follicles surviving beyond each stage of folliculogenesis was determined in both genotypes. Evidence for increased rates of preantral follicle atresia was assessed by active caspase-3 immunohistochemistry in wild-type and Thy1.2-AMH(Tg/0) mice. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: Amh (−/−) mice at 100–120 days of age had lower primordial follicle counts but higher primordial follicle activation rates compared to Amh(+/+) mice. These counteracting effects led to equivalent numbers of primordial follicles transitioning to the primary stage in Amh(+/+) and Amh(−/−) mice. Despite this, Amh(+/+) mice had fewer primary, secondary, small antral and medium antral follicles than Amh(−/−) mice indicating differing rates of developing follicle atresia between genotypes. Cleaved caspase-3 immunohistochemistry in Thy1.2-AMH(Tg/0) ovaries revealed high rates of granulosa cell and oocyte apoptosis in late primary/early secondary follicles of Thy1.2-AMH(Tg/0) mice. LARGE SCALE DATA: N/A. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: The findings were shown only in one species and additional research will be required to determine generalizability to other species. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: This study is consistent with prior studies showing that Amh(−/−) mice have increased primordial follicle activation but these new findings demonstrate that AMH-mediated preantral follicle atresia is a predominant cause of the increased small antral follicle counts in Amh(−/−) mice. This suggests that the role of AMH is not to conserve the ovarian reserve to prolong fertility, but instead to prevent the antral follicle pool from becoming too large. While this study may demonstrate a new function for AMH, the biological purpose of this function requires further investigation, particularly in mono-ovulatory species. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S): This study was funded by the Health Research Council of New Zealand and the University of Otago. No competing interests to declare.