Role for anti-Müllerian hormone in congenital absence of the uterus and vagina.

Abstract

Molecular genetic techniques were used to determine if mutations in the genes encoding anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) (also known as Müllerian inhibiting substance (MIS)) and its receptor (AMHR) are commonly present in patients with congenital absence of the uterus and vagina (CAUV). Twenty-two CAUV patients and 96 control subjects from diverse ethnic groups were studied after obtaining informed consent. Genomic DNA samples prepared from leukocytes were digested separately with several different restriction enzymes, and the resultant fragments were analyzed for restriction fragment melting polymorphisms (RFMPs) by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Electrophoretic mobility of DNA fragments which were 200-700 base pairs in length was compared using polyacrylamide gels that included linear gradients of denaturing solvents designed to separate DNA fragments according to sequence-dependent variation in thermal stability. Two RFMPs were found in the AMH gene in both patients and normal control subjects. One RFMP in the AMHR gene was present at low frequencies in both patients and normal control subjects. No RFMPs specific to CAUV patients were found in either gene. Because no mutations or rare DNA sequence polymorphisms were detected in the AMH and the AMHR genes in this group of CAUV patients, it is unlikely that either gene commonly has an etiologic role in CAUV.