Abstract
BACKGROUND: Serum AMH is declining with age and is highly associated with ovarian follicular reserve and disordered folliculogenesis. However, the precise role of AMH in the process of human follicular aging has still to be determined. AIM: This study investigates AMH level in the follicular fluid (FF) and mRNA expression pattern in cumulus and mural granulosa cells of human ovarian follicles in relation to age. METHODS: We conducted a prospective study. Sixty-eight women undergoing In vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment were enrolled in the study. We obtained FF, mural and cumulus granulosa cells from large preovulatory follicles (17-20 mm) of 21-35 years old women (n = 40) and 40-45 years old women (n = 28) during oocyte pickup. RESULTS: Higher level of AMH mRNA expression in cumulus cells was observed in the older age group compared to the younger (P <0.01). In accordance with AMH mRNA expression results, FF AMH protein levels were significantly higher in the older group than in the younger group (4.7 ± 1.1 ng\ml and 2.3 ± 0.2 ng\ml respectively, p < 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: AMH is highly expressed and secreted from cumulus GCs of advanced age patients. This remarkable correlation between AMH mRNA levels in cumulus cells in respect to age suggests that AMH may be involved in follicular aging process.