Ovarian morphometry and mRNA expression of antimullerian hormone (AMH), follicle stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) and nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB) in growing follicles of female lambs prenatally exposed to testosterone Morfometría ovárica y expresión

Abstract

Antenatal exposure to testosterone (T) has a series of consequences on postnatal reproductive parameters in females of several animal species. In sheep born under this condition the ovaries are characterized by an increased number of growing follicles. If such disruptions are manifested early in life or involve changes in follicular recruitment and ovary paracrine environment, it remains unclear. This study addressed the impact of prenatal T on ovarian morphometry and the mRNA expression of ovarian anti-mullerian hormone (AMH), FSH receptor (FSHR) and nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB, a transcription factor for AMH), factors that are involved in the growth and selection of the dominant follicle. At 4 weeks of age, female lambs born to dams treated with 30 mg of T propionate twice weekly from day 30 to day 90, followed by 40 mg of T propionate from day 90 to day 120 of pregnancy (T females), showed similar number of primordial, primary, secondary and antral follicles than control females (C