ANTI-MÜLLERIAN HORMONE (AMH) AS ENDOCRINE MARKER FOR EMBRYO PRODUCTION IN SUPEROVULATED FRIESIAN COWS

Abstract

The present study aimed to evaluate follicular dynamics, yield, quality and stage of embryos in superovulated Friesian cows with high and low anti-Müllerian (AMH) levels. A total of 10 Friesian cows synchronized with prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) to bring them in heat before start superovulation protocol. On day 10 post oestrus, cows were injected with 2500 IU pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin hormone (PMSG), then after 48h cow were injected with 3 ml PGF2α and with 5 ml gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) to induce ovulation on day 14. Cows were artificially inseminated twice at 12 and 24 h after GnRH. Embryos were collected after 7 days from artificial insemination (AI). To measure AMH concentration, 1 blood sample was collected at the beginning of second follicular wave according to ultrasonography. Results showed that numbers of antral follicles and total follicles were significantly greater in high AMH level than in low AMH level donors. Differences in CL numbers of cows in high AMH level was significantly greater than in low AMH level on flushing day. AMH concentration had a significant positive correlation with antral follicles number pretreatment, total CL number on flushing day, and ovulation rate. The average number and recovery rate of recovered embryos from donor cows with high AMH level were significantly greater than those recovered from cows in low AMH level. Parameters of yield, quality, and stage of embryos had highly significant and positive correlation with AMH level. In conclusion, circulating AMH concentration, as endocrine marker, is highly associated individually with superovulatory response and embryo production potential in cows.