Abstract
BackgroundThe antral follicle count (AFC) in mammalian ovaries positively correlates with female fertility. To clarify the causes of differences in fertility between low and high AFC cows, we investigated follicular growth dynamics and hormone concentrations in plasma, follicular fluid, and in vitro growth (IVG) media at different stages of follicular growth.MethodsSeven cows were divided into high AFC (n = 4, > 30 follicles) and low AFC (n = 3, < 30 follicles) groups based on the peak AFC detected by ultrasonography. These cows were subjected to estrous synchronization, daily ovarian ultrasonography, and blood collection. Their follicular fluid was collected from dominant follicles at different stages (selection, luteal, and ovulatory phases). In another experiment, we cultured oocyte-cumulus-granulosa cell complexes collected from early antral follicles (< 1 mm) for 12 days. Estradiol-17β (E2), testosterone (T), progesterone (P4), and anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) concentrations in follicular fluids and plasma were measured. Plasma follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) concentrations were examined. E2, P4, and AMH concentrations were also measured in IVG media.ResultsThe numbers of small (< 4 mm) and intermediate (4–8 mm) follicles were larger in the high AFC group than in the low AFC group (P < 0.05). The number of intermediate follicles was stable in the low AFC group, indicating consistent development. However, the number of these follicles fluctuated in the high AFC group. Plasma FSH concentrations were higher, whereas E2 and T concentrations were lower in the low AFC group (P < 0.05). E2 concentrations and the E2/P4 ratio in ovulatory follicles and IVG media on day 8 were higher in the high AFC group (P < 0.05). AMH concentrations in plasma and IVG media (P < 0.01) were higher in the high AFC group.ConclusionsThe weaker response to FSH of granulosa cells caused low E2 production in the low AFC group, resulting in high FSH concentrations and the consistent development of intermediate follicles. Conversely, higher E2 concentrations suppressed FSH secretion in the high AFC group. Granulosa cells in the high AFC group had the ability to produce more AMH than those in the low AFC group throughout IVG culture.
Highlights
The antral follicle count (AFC) in mammalian ovaries positively correlates with female fertility
We previously reported that the fertilizability of oocytes after in vitro fertilization (IVF) collected from cattle by ultrasound-guided ovum-pick up (OPU) was higher in high AFC cows having 30 or more antral follicles in a pair of ovaries at the time of OPU than in low AFC cows having less than 30 antral follicles at a 3- or 4-day interval of OPU [10]
We investigated the relationship between anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and AFC at follicular stages before recruitment by the in vitro growth (IVG) of Oocyte-cumulus-granulosa complex (OCGC) derived from early-antral follicles (< 1 mm in diameter) and ultrasound-guided follicular aspiration, respectively
Summary
The antral follicle count (AFC) in mammalian ovaries positively correlates with female fertility. The primary roles of the ovaries are to support the growth and maturation of oocytes for the acquisition of fertilizability and competence for embryonic and fetal development, as well as the production of sex steroid hormones to induce the estrous cycle and sustain pregnancy. These ovarian functions are regulated by gonadotrophins and steroid hormones. In mono-ovulatory species, the emergence of follicular growth is induced by the surge-like secretion of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). Most follicles degenerate during follicular growth, and only a small proportion of follicles develop and ovulate [1, 2]
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