Expression of Anti-Müllerian Hormone and Its Type 2 Receptor in the Ovary of Pregnant and Cyclic Domestic Cats

Abstract

To evaluate the expression of AMH and its receptor AMHRII, ovaries of 33 p cats were investigated by western blot and immunohistochemistry. After ovariohysterectomy, the cats were grouped according to pregnancy stages and ovarian/placental endocrine activity: group I (n = 3, 24–29 days), II (n = 8, 32–40 days), III (n = 4, 41–46 days), IV (n = 6, 53–61 days) and according to cycle stages: V (n = 6, interestrus) and VI (n = 6, estrus). Serum progesterone- and AMH-concentration was measured. Follicle numbers did not differ between groups. The number of corpora lutea was higher in pregnant cats than in the non-pregnant cats. Serum AMH concentration was at maximum between day 30 and 50 of gestation, and was higher than in non-pregnant cats, then decreased towards term (p p 2 = 0.832, p p ˂ 0.05). We conclude that AMH and AMHRII expression in the feline ovary is comparable to other species. The high serum AMH concentration and ovarian AMHRII expression between day 30 and 50 of gestation are probably related to ovarian activity and follicular atresia.

Keywords

• cats
• pregnancy
• estrus
• ovary
• AMH
• AMH receptor