School of Computer Science, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Scotland, United Kingdom.
PLoS One. 2011;6(7):e22024. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0022024. Epub 2011 Jul 15.
Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is a product of growing ovarian follicles. The concentration of AMH in blood may also reflect the non-growing follicle (NGF) population, i.e. the ovarian reserve, and be of value in predicting reproductive lifespan. A full description of AMH production up to the menopause has not been previously reported.
METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: By searching the published literature for AMH concentrations in healthy pre-menopausal females, and using our own data (combined n = 3,260) we have generated and robustly validated the first model of AMH concentration from conception to menopause. This model shows that 34% of the variation in AMH is due to age alone. We have shown that AMH peaks at age 24.5 years, followed by a decline to the menopause. We have also shown that there is a neonatal peak and a potential pre-pubertal peak. Our model allows us to generate normative data at all ages.
CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: These data highlight key inflection points in ovarian follicle dynamics. This first validated model of circulating AMH in healthy females describes a transition period in early adulthood, after which AMH reflects the progressive loss of the NGF pool. The existence of a neonatal increase in gonadal activity is confirmed for females. An improved understanding of the relationship between circulating AMH and age will lead to more accurate assessment of ovarian reserve for the individual woman.
抗苗勒氏管激素（AMH）是生长中的卵泡的产物。血液中 AMH 的浓度也可能反映非生长卵泡（NGF）的数量，即卵巢储备，并有助于预测生殖寿命。AMH 产生直至绝经的完整描述以前尚未报道过。
方法/主要发现：通过搜索健康绝经前女性的 AMH 浓度的已发表文献，并使用我们自己的数据（合并 n=3260），我们生成并验证了第一个从受孕到绝经的 AMH 浓度模型。该模型表明，AMH 变异的 34%仅归因于年龄。我们表明 AMH 在 24.5 岁时达到峰值，随后下降至绝经。我们还表明存在新生儿峰和潜在的青春期前峰。我们的模型使我们能够在所有年龄段生成规范数据。
结论/意义：这些数据突出了卵巢卵泡动力学的关键转折点。该模型是第一个在健康女性中描述循环 AMH 的验证模型，描述了成年早期的过渡时期，此后 AMH 反映了 NGF 池的逐渐丧失。对于女性，确认了性腺活动在新生儿期增加。对循环 AMH 与年龄之间关系的更好理解将导致对个体女性卵巢储备的更准确评估。
