Relationship between follicle population, AMH concentration and fertility in cattle

The size of ovarian follicular population evaluated by direct antral follicular count or endocrine markers can help determine the success of reproductive biotechnologies in cattle. However, although highly repeatable within animal, the antral follicular population (AFP) appears to be greatly variable across individuals. Therefore, laboratory methods that reliably predict AFP could have a significant value to select donor-cows for use in reproductive biotechnology and for genomic selection of animals with greater reproductive potential. Accordingly, the circulating levels of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) have been found to be associated with AFP and, thereby, identified as an important endocrine marker of superovulation response and in vitro embryo production in cattle. Moreover, a number of recent publications and ongoing studies are trying to determine whether circulating levels of AMH are correlated with fertility. This review summarizes recent information concerning AFP and its association with AMH, and the possibility of utilizing AMH as a marker for reproductive technologies and ultimately to enhance cattle fertility.