TY - JOUR
T1 - Expression of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) in the equine testis
AU - Ball, B. A.
AU - Conley, A. J.
AU - Grundy, S. A.
AU - Sabeur, K.
AU - Liu, I. K.M.
PY - 2008/3/15
Y1 - 2008/3/15
N2 - Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) induces regression of Müllerian ducts during male fetal development; in the human male, it is expressed in Sertoli cells during fetal development (and through puberty). The objective was to characterize expression of AMH in the fetal, neonatal, prepubertal, and adult equine testis, as well as in equine cryptorchid testes, in select testicular neoplasms, and in intersex gonads, based upon immunohistochemistry (IHC). Testes were removed from equine fetuses at 5.5, 10, and 11 months of gestation, at 12 months of age, and from adult stallions. In addition, cryptorchid testes, testis tumors (teratomas, seminomas, Sertoli cell tumors), and male intersex gonads were examined by IHC for expression of AMH using a goat polyclonal primary antibody (α-AMH) directed against a C-terminal peptide antigen from human AMH. Immunolabeling with α-AMH was localized to Sertoli cells within the developing seminiferous tubules of fetal, neonatal and prepubertal equine testes, with no expression detected in Sertoli cells from normal adult equine testes. Furthermore, expression was detected in cryptorchid testes (in animals up to 3-4 years of age) and in Sertoli cell tumors and male intersex gonads. In conclusion, AMH was strongly expressed by Sertoli cells in fetal, neonatal and prepubertal equine testes, but not in normal adult testes. That AMH was expressed in cryptorchid testes may provide a useful biomarker for detection of cryptorchid testes, as well as for immunohistochemical characterization of testicular tumors and intersex gonads in the horse.
AB - Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) induces regression of Müllerian ducts during male fetal development; in the human male, it is expressed in Sertoli cells during fetal development (and through puberty). The objective was to characterize expression of AMH in the fetal, neonatal, prepubertal, and adult equine testis, as well as in equine cryptorchid testes, in select testicular neoplasms, and in intersex gonads, based upon immunohistochemistry (IHC). Testes were removed from equine fetuses at 5.5, 10, and 11 months of gestation, at 12 months of age, and from adult stallions. In addition, cryptorchid testes, testis tumors (teratomas, seminomas, Sertoli cell tumors), and male intersex gonads were examined by IHC for expression of AMH using a goat polyclonal primary antibody (α-AMH) directed against a C-terminal peptide antigen from human AMH. Immunolabeling with α-AMH was localized to Sertoli cells within the developing seminiferous tubules of fetal, neonatal and prepubertal equine testes, with no expression detected in Sertoli cells from normal adult equine testes. Furthermore, expression was detected in cryptorchid testes (in animals up to 3-4 years of age) and in Sertoli cell tumors and male intersex gonads. In conclusion, AMH was strongly expressed by Sertoli cells in fetal, neonatal and prepubertal equine testes, but not in normal adult testes. That AMH was expressed in cryptorchid testes may provide a useful biomarker for detection of cryptorchid testes, as well as for immunohistochemical characterization of testicular tumors and intersex gonads in the horse.
KW - Anti-Müllerian hormone
KW - Cryptorchidism
KW - Equine
KW - Sertoli cell
KW - Testis
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=39649115185&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=39649115185&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2007.11.009
DO - 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2007.11.009
M3 - Article
C2 - 18242669
AN - SCOPUS:39649115185
SN - 0093-691X
VL - 69
SP - 624
EP - 631
JO - Theriogenology
JF - Theriogenology
IS - 5
ER -