Regulation of ovarian function: structural characterization and role of anti-müllerian hormone (AMH) / Regulação da função ovariana: caracterização estrutural e papel do hormônio anti-mülleriano (AMH)

ABSTRACT

Background: The anti-müllerian hormone (AMH) is a member of the transforming growth factor (TGF-) superfamily, which exerts important functions on local regulation of folliculogenesis. Although in vivo and in vitro studies suggest that AMH affects the primordial follicle assembly and activation, as well as the responsiveness of growing follicles to folliclestimulating hormone (FSH), the physiological mechanisms involved in these actions remain to be fully elucidated. Given the relevance of AMH in the folliculogenesis, this review aimed to describe the structural features, expression and the main biological effects of AMH on the follicular development. Review Originally identified as a testicular product, AMH is responsible for regression of the Müllerian ducts during sexual differentiation of male embryos. In females, AMH is produced almost exclusively by granulosa cells of ovarian growing follicles, whose serum levels are positively related to the number of ovarian follicles, making AMH an excellent clinic marker of ovarian reserve. Along this work, it was shown aspects related to the structural characterization of AMH and its specific type II receptor (AMHRII). AMH is a glycoprotein dimer linked by disulfide bonds. The mature protein comprises two unequal domains a long N-terminal domain (110-kDa) and a short C-terminal domain (25-kDa), responsible for the biological act

RESUMO

A foliculogênese é um evento complexo que envolve o recrutamento do pool de folículos primordiais, seguido por uma fase de crescimento e diferenciação. É sabido que para a sua regulação são requeridos vários fatores parácrinos e autócrinos, especialmente fatores de crescimento produzidos pelas células da granulosa. Dentre esses fatores, destaca-se o hormônio anti-mülleriano (AMH), uma glicoproteína membro da superfamília de fatores de crescimento transformantes (TGF-). Inicialmente o AMH foi estudado por seu papel regulatório no processo de diferenciação sexual masculina. [...]