Abstract
Author(s): Rabab M. Sorour*, Osama Fekry, Tamer Taha, Sondos Salem and Mohamed A. ElNoury
Background: Anti-Müllarian Hormone (AMH) is a member of the transforming growth factor-β superfamily. It is a yield of granulosa cells lining the FSH dependent growing preantral and small antral follicles. Some authors suggested a relationship between the serum AMH level and oocyte and embryo quality during ovarian stimulation through an IVF cycle.
Material and methods: This prospective observational clinical study was done at Ain Shams University, maternity hospital (IVF Unit), and a private ICSI center from May 2019 to June 2020. Our study used the ALU- QPCR technique and ELISA (Immunotech Beckman Coulter, Marseille, France). To accurately measure the cell-free DNA (cfDNA) level and FF AMH levels respectively, in 35 follicular fluid samples from 15 patients undergoing ICSI.
Results: Our results displayed the range of FFAMH from 1 to 3.8 (ng/ ml). Samples were divided into 3 groups according to the FF AMH levels: (low group, FF AMH<2.1 ng/ mL, patient’s n=5, follicles=10), inter mediate group, FF AMH=2.1-3.6 ng/mL, patient’s n=6, follicles=14), (high group, FF AMH>3.6 ng/mL, patient’s n=4, follicles=11) (Tab. 1). FF AMH levels have no correlation with the embryo quality, cleavage, fragmentation, number of blastomeres on day 3 after fertilization (r=4.348, r=3.263, r=4.348, r=6.269; P=0.114, P=0.196, P=0.114, P=0.180 respectively) (Tab. 2.). Our data showed no significant correlation between individual follicular fluid AMH level, cell free DNA (cfDNA) (r=0.2920, P=0.088) (Tab. 3.) (Fig. 1.). However, Comparing the characteristics and ICSI outcomes among the low, intermediate, and high groups, no significant differences observed except for basal FSH, and numbers of oocytes retrieved. Our study found that the level of cfDNA in follicular fluid is strongly associated with the quality of embryos on Day 3.
Conclusions: Our study results showed no significant correlation between follicular fluid AMH level, oocyte quality or embryo quality. In addition, there is no significant correlation between follicular fluid AMH levels, cell free DNA (cfDNA). Therefore, Individual FF AMH may not be used as a biomarker to judge the oocyte or embryo outcomes during an ICSI cycle.