Investigation of serum anti-Müllerian hormone levels at follicular phase and interestrus period in queens

Abstract

The objectives of this study were: i) to report overall mean AMH serum concentrations in queens, ii) to determine relationship between serum AMH concentration with estradiol level, iii) to investigate the relationship between serum AMH with follicular phase and interestrus phase of the estrous cycle, iv) to discuss the usability of AMH as a biomarker to diagnosis of ovarian remnant syndrome in breeding season in queens. In the study, 64 healthy queens referred to clinics for routine ovariohysterectomy were used. After anamnesis, vaginal cytology, macroscopic examination of the uterus and ovaries and estradiol measurement, queens were divided into two groups: follicular phase (n: 45) and interestrus (n: 19). Estradiol and AMH levels in serum samples were determined by ELISA. In the evaluation of serum AMH concentrations, a statistical difference was determined between the follicular phase and interestrus (P˂0.05). A negative correlation was found between age and estradiol in both follicular phase (r = -0.171) and interestrus (r = -0.385) groups. A positive correlation was found between age and AMH in the interestrus (P˂0.01, r = 0.696). Serum AMH levels in the interestrus were found to be significantly higher than follicular phase (P˂0.05). It was thought that this increase in serum AMH levels during the interestrus period, which is the stage where oocytes were selected for ovulation, may be an indicator of the role of AMH in oocyte selection in queens, as in many other mammalian species.