Anti-Müllerian hormone in seminal plasma and serum: association with sperm count and sperm motility

Abstract

Study question: Is anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) in seminal plasma and serum associated with sperm count and sperm motility?

Summary answer: AMH in seminal plasma is positively associated with sperm concentration, total sperm count, and progressive sperm motility, while no association was found between serum AMH levels and semen characteristics.

What is known already: AMH is secreted by the Sertoli cells and is detectable in both serum and seminal plasma in adult men. It has been suggested as a marker of spermatogenesis, however, its function in the adult male is largely unknown.

Study design, size, duration: Participants were recruited in between 2008 and 2013, from the general population (n = 94) and from couples with female factor infertility in a fertility clinic (n = 32). AMH data were available for 126 participants.

Participants/materials, setting, methods: Mean age of the participants was 36 years, and BMI was between 19 and 39 kg/m(2). Semen quality was evaluated by semen analysis according to the World Health Organization, and AMH levels were measured in seminal plasma. Blood samples were analyzed for AMH, total testosterone, FSH, LH, and inhibin B. AMH analysis was performed using the improved Beckman Coulter method.

Main results and the role of chance: The central 95% intervals of AMH concentrations were 2-2812 pmol/l in seminal plasma and 15-134 pmol/l in serum. Total AMH (pmol/ejaculate) in seminal plasma was positively associated with sperm concentration (B = 0.177, P< 0.001) and total sperm count (B = 0.212, P< 0.001) when adjusted for age, BMI, time of abstinence, and positively associated with progressive sperm motility (B = 6.762, P = 0.001) when adjusted for age, BMI, time of abstinence, and site of sample collection. No association was found between serum AMH and semen characteristics. Serum levels of inhibin B were positively correlated with total AMH in seminal plasma (B = 18.52, P< 0.001) and concentration of AMH in serum (B = 0.507, P< 0.001).

Limitations, reasons for caution: Participants were recruited both from the general population and from a fertility clinic. This may limit the applicability to men in the general population.

Wider implications of the findings: The AMH levels found in this study show large inter-individual variation, especially in seminal plasma. AMH in seminal plasma may serve as a marker of sperm production, however, in the lower range the predictive value is low.

Study funding/competing interests: All funding for this study was received from Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences. The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Keywords: anti-Müllerian hormone; seminal plasma; serum; sperm count; sperm motility.