Anti-Müllerian hormone induces autophagy to preserve the primordial follicle pool in mice.

The reserve pool of primordial follicles (PMFs) is finely regulated by molecules implicated in follicular growth or PMF survival. Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), produced by granulosa cells of growing follicles, is known for its inhibitory role in the initiation of PMF growth. We observed in a recent in vivo study that injection of AMH into mice seemed to induce an activation of autophagy. Furthermore, injection of AMH into mice activates the transcription factor FOXO3A which is also known for its implication in autophagy regulation. Many studies highlighted the key role of autophagy in the ovary at different stages of folliculogenesis, particularly in PMF survival. Through an in vitro approach with organotypic cultures of prepubertal mouse ovaries, treated or not with AMH, we aimed to understand the link among AMH, autophagy, and FOXO3A transcription factor. Autophagy and FOXO3A phosphorylation were analyzed by western blot. The expression of genes involved in autophagy was quantified by RT-qPCR. In our in vitro model, we confirmed the decrease in FOXO3A phosphorylation and the induction of autophagy in ovaries incubated with AMH. AMH also induces the expression of genes involved in autophagy. Interestingly, most of these genes are known to be FOXO3A target genes. In conclusion, we have identified a new role for AMH, namely the induction of autophagy, probably through FOXO3A activation. Thus, AMH protects the ovarian reserve not only by inhibiting the growth of PMFs but also by enabling their survival through activation of autophagy.

BMPR1A and BMPR1B Missense Mutations Cause Primary Ovarian Insufficiency.

CONTEXT: Primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) is a frequently occurring disorder affecting approximately 1% of women under 40 years of age. POI, which is characterized by the premature depletion of ovarian follicles and elevated plasma levels of follicle-stimulating hormone, leads to infertility. Although various etiological factors have been described, including chromosomal abnormalities and gene mutations, most cases remain idiopathic. OBJECTIVE: To identify and to functionally validate new sequence variants in 2 genes that play a key role in mammalian ovarian function, BMPR1A and BMPR1B (encoding for bone morphogenic protein receptor), leading to POI. METHODS: The impact on bone morphogenic protein (BMP) signaling of BMPR1A and BMPR1B variants, previously identified by whole-exome sequencing on 69 women affected by isolated POI, was established by different in vitro functional experiments. RESULTS: We demonstrate that the BMPR1A-p.Arg442His and BMPR1B-p.Phe272Leu variants are correctly expressed and located but lead to an impairment of downstream BMP signaling. CONCLUSION: In accordance with infertility observed in mice lacking Bmpr1a in the ovaries and in Bmpr1b-/- mice, our results unveil, for the first time, a link between BMPR1A and BMPR1B variants and the origin of POI. We show that BMP signaling impairment through specific BMPR1A and BMPR1B variants is a novel pathophysiological mechanism involved in human POI. We consider that BMPR1A and BMPR1B variants constitute genetic biomarkers of the origin of POI and have clinical utility.

The Impact of Chemotherapy on the Ovaries: Molecular Aspects and the Prevention of Ovarian Damage.

Cancer treatment, such as chemotherapy, induces early ovarian follicular depletion and subsequent infertility. In order to protect gametes from the gonadotoxic effects of chemotherapy, several fertility preservation techniques-such as oocyte or embryo cryopreservation with or without ovarian stimulation, or cryopreservation of the ovarian cortex-should be considered. However, these methods may be difficult to perform, and the future use of cryopreserved germ cells remains uncertain. Therefore, improving the methods currently available and developing new strategies to preserve fertility represent major challenges in the area of oncofertility. Animal and ovarian culture models have been used to decipher the effects of different cytotoxic agents on ovarian function and several theories regarding chemotherapy gonadotoxicity have been raised. For example, cytotoxic agents might (i) have a direct detrimental effect on the DNA of primordial follicles constituting the ovarian reserve and induce apoptosis; (ii) induce a massive growth of dormant follicles, which are then destroyed; or (ii) induce vascular ovarian damage. Thanks to improvements in the understanding of the mechanisms involved, a large number of studies have been carried out to develop molecules limiting the negative impact of chemotherapy on the ovaries.

Anti-Müllerian Hormone in Fertility Preservation: Clinical and Therapeutic Applications.

Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is a member of the transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta family and a key regulator of sexual differentiation and folliculogenesis. While the serum AMH level has been used in reproductive medicine as a biomarker of quantitative ovarian reserve for more than 20 years, new potential therapeutic applications of recombinant AMH are emerging, notably in the field of oncofertility. Indeed, it is well known that chemotherapy, used to treat cancer, induces ovarian follicular depletion and subsequent infertility. Animal models have been used widely to understand the effects of different cytotoxic agents on ovarian function, and several hypotheses regarding chemotherapy gonadotoxicity have been proposed, that is, it might have a direct detrimental effect on the primordial follicles constituting the ovarian reserve and/or on the pool of growing follicles secreting AMH. Recently, a new mechanism of chemotherapy-induced follicular depletion, called the "burn-out effect," has been proposed. According to this theory, chemotherapeutic agents may lead to a massive growth of dormant follicles which are then destroyed. As AMH is one of the factors regulating the recruitment of primordial follicles from the ovarian reserve, recombinant AMH administration concomitant with chemotherapy might limit follicular depletion, therefore representing a promising option for preserving fertility in women suffering from cancer. This review reports on the potential usefulness of AMH measurement as well as AMH's role as a therapeutic agent in the field of female fertility preservation.

Prolactin - a pleiotropic factor in health and disease.

The principal role of prolactin in mammals is the regulation of lactation. Prolactin is a hormone that is mainly synthesized and secreted by lactotroph cells in the anterior pituitary gland. Prolactin signalling occurs via a unique transmembrane prolactin receptor (PRL-R). The structure of the PRL-R has now been elucidated and is similar to that of many biologically fundamental receptors of the class 1 haematopoietic cytokine receptor family such as the growth hormone receptor. The PRL-R is expressed in a wide array of tissues, and a growing number of biological processes continue to be attributed to prolactin. In this Review, we focus on the newly discovered roles of prolactin in human health and disease, particularly its involvement in metabolic homeostasis including body weight control, adipose tissue, skin and hair follicles, pancreas, bone, the adrenal response to stress, the control of lactotroph cell homeostasis and maternal behaviour. New data concerning the pathological states of hypoprolactinaemia and hyperprolactinaemia will also be presented and discussed.

AMH prevents primordial ovarian follicle loss and fertility alteration in cyclophosphamide-treated mice.

The follicular ovarian reserve, constituted by primordial follicles (PMFs), is established early in life, then keeps declining regularly along reproductive life. The maintenance of a normal female reproductive function implies the presence of a vast amount of dormant PMFs. This process involves a continuous repression of PMF activation into early growing follicle through the balance between factors activating the initiation of follicular growth, mainly actors of the PI3K signaling pathway, and inhibiting factors such as anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH). Any disruption of this balance may induce follicle depletion and subsequent infertility. It has been recently proposed that cyclophosphamide (Cy), an alkylating agent commonly used for treating breast cancer, triggers PMF activation, further leading to premature ovarian insufficiency. Preventing chemotherapy-induced ovarian dysfunction might represent an interesting option for preserving optimal chances of natural or medically assisted conceptions after healing. The aim of the present study was to evaluate, in a model of Cy-treated pubertal mice, whether AMH administration might restrain PMF depletion. The counting of the total PMF number within mouse ovaries showed that recombinant AMH prevented Cy-induced PMF loss. Western blot analysis revealed activation of PI3K signaling pathway after Cy administration. After AMH injection, FOXO3A phosphorylation, a main actor of PMF activation, was significantly decreased. Taken together, these results support a protective role of AMH against Cy-induced follicular loss. We also provide evidence for a possible role of autophagy in the preservation of follicular pool reserve. Therefore, concomitant recombinant AMH administration during chemotherapy might offer a new option for preserving young patients' fertility.-Sonigo, C., Beau, I., Grynberg, M., Binart, N. AMH prevents primordial ovarian follicle loss and fertility alteration in cyclophosphamide-treated mice.

ATG7 and ATG9A loss-of-function variants trigger autophagy impairment and ovarian failure.

PURPOSE: Primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) is a frequent disorder that affects ~1% of women under 40 years of age. POI, which is characterized by the premature depletion of ovarian follicles and elevated plasma levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), leads to infertility. Although various etiological factors have been described, including chromosomal abnormalities and gene variants, most cases remain idiopathic. The aim of the present study was to identify and validate functionally new sequence variants in ATG (autophagy-related genes) leading to POI. METHODS: We have reanalyzed, in silico, the exome sequencing data from a previously reported work performed in 69 unrelated POI women. Functional experiments using a classical hallmark of autophagy, the microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3ß (LC3), were then used to link these genes to this lysosomal degradation pathway. RESULTS: We venture a functional link between ATG7 and ATG9A variants and POI. We demonstrated that variant ATG7 and ATG9A led to a decrease in autophagosome biosynthesis and consequently to an impairment of autophagy, a key biological process implicated in the preservation of the primordial follicles forming the ovarian reserve. CONCLUSION: Our results unveil that impaired autophagy is a novel pathophysiological mechanism involved in human POI.

Functional evidence implicating NOTCH2 missense mutations in primary ovarian insufficiency etiology.

Primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) is a frequently occurring disease affecting women under 40 years old. Recently, we have analyzed unrelated POI women via whole exome sequencing (WES) and identified NOTCH2 mutations underlying possible functional effects. The present study involved reanalyzing of WES assays. We used in the KGN granulosa-like cell model, a synthetic gene reporter construct driving luciferase gene expression to assess the functional effects of five NOTCH2 mutations identified in POI patients. We found that NOTCH2-p.Ser1804Leu, p.Ala2316Val, and p.Pro2359Ala mutations had a functional impact on the protein's transcriptional activity. The results have demonstrated for the first time that NOTCH2 mutations contribute to POI etiology. We therefore recommend sequencing NOTCH2's open reading frame in large panels of POI patients to establish an accurate genotype-phenotype correlation. We cannot rule out the fact that patients affected by Alagille syndrome carrying NOTCH2 mutations may suffer ovarian dysfunction.

High-throughput ovarian follicle counting by an innovative deep learning approach.

The evaluation of the number of mouse ovarian primordial follicles (PMF) can provide important information about ovarian function, regulation of folliculogenesis or the impact of chemotherapy on fertility. This counting, usually performed by specialized operators, is a tedious, time-consuming but indispensable procedure.The development and increasing use of deep machine learning algorithms promise to speed up and improve this process. Here, we present a new methodology of automatically detecting and counting PMF, using convolutional neural networks driven by labelled datasets and a sliding window algorithm to select test data. Trained from a database of 9 millions of images extracted from mouse ovaries, and tested over two ovaries (3 millions of images to classify and 2 000 follicles to detect), the algorithm processes the digitized histological slides of a completed ovary in less than one minute, dividing the usual processing time by a factor of about 30. It also outperforms the measurements made by a pathologist through optical detection. Its ability to correct label errors enables conducting an active learning process with the operator, improving the overall counting iteratively. These results could be suitable to adapt the methodology to the human ovarian follicles by transfer learning.

Autocrine actions of prolactin contribute to the regulation of lactotroph function in vivo.

Prolactin (PRL), whose principal role is regulation of lactation, is mainly synthesized and secreted by lactotroph anterior pituitary cells. Its signaling is exerted via a transmembrane PRL receptor (PRLR) expressed in a wide variety of tissues, including the anterior pituitary. Dopamine, which is secreted by tuberoinfundibular hypothalamic neurons, is the major inhibitory regulator of prolactin secretion. Although PRL is well established to stimulate hypothalamic dopamine secretion, thereby exerting a negative feedback regulation on its own release, autocrine or paracrine actions of PRL on lactotroph cells have also been suggested. Within the pituitary, PRL may inhibit both lactotroph proliferation and secretion, but in vivo evaluation of these putative functions is limited. To determine whether the autocrine actions of prolactin have a significant role in the physiologic function of lactotrophs in vivo, we examined the consequences of conditional deletion of Prlr in lactotroph cells using a novel mouse line with loxP sites flanking the Prlr gene ( Prlrlox/lox) and Cre-recombinase (Cre) expressed under the control of the pituitary-specific Prl promoter. Prlrlox/lox/Prl-Cre mice have normal PRL levels and did not develop any pituitary lactotroph adenoma, even at 20 mo of age. Nevertheless, Prlrlox/lox/Prl-Cre mice displayed an increased dopaminergic inhibitory tone compared with control Prlrlox/lox mice. These results elegantly confirm an autocrine/paracrine feedback of PRL on lactotroph cells in vivo, which can be fully compensated by an intact hypothalamic feedback system.-Bernard, V., Lamothe, S., Beau, I., Guillou, A., Martin, A., Le Tissier, P., Grattan, D., Young, J., Binart, N. Autocrine actions of prolactin contribute to the regulation of lactotroph function in vivo.

Natural and molecular history of prolactinoma: insights from a Prlr-/- mouse model.

Lactotroph adenoma, also called prolactinoma, is the most common pituitary tumor but little is known about its pathogenesis. Mouse models of prolactinoma can be useful to better understand molecular mechanisms involved in abnormal lactotroph cell proliferation and secretion. We have previously developed a prolactin receptor deficient (Prlr-/- ) mouse, which develops prolactinoma. The present study aims to explore the natural history of prolactinoma formation in Prlr-/- mice, using hormonal, radiological, histological and molecular analyses to uncover mechanisms involved in lactotroph adenoma development. Prlr-/- females develop large secreting prolactinomas from 12 months of age, with a penetrance of 100%, mimicking human aggressive densely granulated macroprolactinoma, which is a highly secreting subtype. Mean blood PRL measurements reach 14 902 ng/mL at 24 months in Prlr-/- females while PRL levels were below 15 ng/mL in control mice (p < 0.01). By comparing pituitary microarray data of Prlr-/- mice and an estrogen-induced prolactinoma model in ACI rats, we pinpointed 218 concordantly differentially expressed (DE) genes involved in cell cycle, mitosis, cell adhesion molecules, dopaminergic synapse and estrogen signaling. Pathway/gene-set enrichment analyses suggest that the transcriptomic dysregulation in both models of prolactinoma might be mediated by a limited set of transcription factors (i.e., STAT5, STAT3, AhR, ESR1, BRD4, CEBPD, YAP, FOXO1) and kinases (i.e., JAK2, AKT1, BRAF, BMPR1A, CDK8, HUNK, ALK, FGFR1, ILK). Our experimental results and their bioinformatic analysis provide insights into early genomic changes in murine models of the most frequent human pituitary tumor.

GENETICS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY: Genetic counseling for congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and Kallmann syndrome: new challenges in the era of oligogenism and next-generation sequencing.

Congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (CHH) and Kallmann syndrome (KS) are rare, related diseases that prevent normal pubertal development and cause infertility in affected men and women. However, the infertility carries a good prognosis as increasing numbers of patients with CHH/KS are now able to have children through medically assisted procreation. These are genetic diseases that can be transmitted to patients' offspring. Importantly, patients and their families should be informed of this risk and given genetic counseling. CHH and KS are phenotypically and genetically heterogeneous diseases in which the risk of transmission largely depends on the gene(s) responsible(s). Inheritance may be classically Mendelian yet more complex; oligogenic modes of transmission have also been described. The prevalence of oligogenicity has risen dramatically since the advent of massively parallel next-generation sequencing (NGS) in which tens, hundreds or thousands of genes are sequenced at the same time. NGS is medically and economically more efficient and more rapid than traditional Sanger sequencing and is increasingly being used in medical practice. Thus, it seems plausible that oligogenic forms of CHH/KS will be increasingly identified making genetic counseling even more complex. In this context, the main challenge will be to differentiate true oligogenism from situations when several rare variants that do not have a clear phenotypic effect are identified by chance. This review aims to summarize the genetics of CHH/KS and to discuss the challenges of oligogenic transmission and also its role in incomplete penetrance and variable expressivity in a perspective of genetic counseling.

Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Ovarian Axis Reactivation by Kisspeptin-10 in Hyperprolactinemic Women With Chronic Amenorrhea.

CONTEXT: Hyperprolactinemia-induced hypogonadotropic amenorrhea (hPRL-HA) is a major cause of hypothalamic gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) deficiency in women. In hyperprolactinemic mice, we previously demonstrated that hypothalamic kisspeptin (Kp) expression was diminished and that Kp administration restored hypothalamic GnRH release, gonadotropin secretion, and ovarian cyclicity, suggesting that Kp neurons could also play a role in hPRL-HA. OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of Kp-10 on the gonadotropic-ovarian axis in women with hPRL-HA. PATIENTS: Two women (32 and 36 years old) with chronic hPRL-HA (prolactin: between 94 and 102 and 98 and 112 ng/mL, respectively) caused by cabergoline-resistant microprolactinomas. INTERVENTIONS: Cabergoline was discontinued 6 months before inclusion. Blood samples were taken every 10 minutes for 12 hours during 2 consecutive days to evaluate luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) secretion. Serum estradiol (E2), testosterone (T), and inhibin B (IB) levels were also measured. Vehicle or Kp-10 (1.5 µg/kg/h) was infused intravenously for 12 hours. RESULTS: Kp-10 induced a significant increase in LH and FSH levels and increased LH pulses. E2, T, and IB serum levels were also significantly increased. CONCLUSIONS: In this exploratory study, we demonstrated that administration of Kp-10 reactivated gonadotropin secretion in women with hPRL-HA and increased ovarian activity. Our data suggest that, as in rodents, GnRH deficiency in hPRL-HA is also mediated by an impairment of hypothalamic Kp secretion. Kp-10 or its analogues could have therapeutic application as an alternative approach to restore ovarian function and fertility in women with hPRL-HA resistant to dopamine agonists and in whom pituitary surgery is not possible.

R-spondin2, a novel target of NOBOX: identification of variants in a cohort of women with primary ovarian insufficiency.

BACKGROUND: R-spondin2 (Rspo2) is a secreted agonist of the canonical Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway. Rspo2 plays a key role in development of limbs, lungs and hair follicles, and more recently during ovarian follicle development. Rspo2 heterozygous deficient female mice become infertile around 4 months of age mimicking primary ovarian insufficiency (POI). The study aimed to investigate the regulation of RSPO2 and its potential involvement in pathophysiology of POI. METHODS: We cloned the RSPO2 promoter and performed transcriptional assays to determine if RSPO2 can be regulated by NOBOX, an ovarian transcription factor. Then, we evaluated 100 infertile women after obtaining a detailed history of the disease and follicle-stimulating hormone measurements, besides karyotype determination and fragile-X premutation syndrome investigation. All exons, intron-exon boundaries and untranslated regions of the RSPO2 gene were identified by sequencing, and the results were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: We found that RSPO2 can be regulated by NOBOX via the presence of NOBOX Binding Element in its promoter. Among 9 identified variants in POI women, 4 of them were equally homozygous, 4 have never been described (c.-359C > G, c.-190G > A, c.-170 + 13C > T and c.-169-8 T > A), only one c.557 T > C was predicted to alter a single amino acid in the RSPO2 protein (p.Leu186Pro). CONCLUSIONS: RSPO2 is a novel target gene of the NOBOX key transcription factor, confirming its important role during the follicular growth in ovary. However, RSPO2 mutations are rare or uncommon in women with POI.

New mutations in non-syndromic primary ovarian insufficiency patients identified via whole-exome sequencing.

STUDY QUESTION: Is it possible to identify new mutations potentially associated with non-syndromic primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) via whole-exome sequencing (WES)? SUMMARY ANSWER: WES is an efficient tool to study genetic causes of POI as we have identified new mutations, some of which lead to protein destablization potentially contributing to the disease etiology. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: POI is a frequently occurring complex pathology leading to infertility. Mutations in only few candidate genes, mainly identified by Sanger sequencing, have been definitively related to the pathogenesis of the disease. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: This is a retrospective cohort study performed on 69 women affected by POI. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: WES and an innovative bioinformatics analysis were used on non-synonymous sequence variants in a subset of 420 selected POI candidate genes. Mutations in BMPR1B and GREM1 were modeled by using fragment molecular orbital analysis. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: Fifty-five coding variants in 49 genes potentially related to POI were identified in 33 out of 69 patients (48%). These genes participate in key biological processes in the ovary, such as meiosis, follicular development, granulosa cell differentiation/proliferation and ovulation. The presence of at least two mutations in distinct genes in 42% of the patients argued in favor of a polygenic nature of POI. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: It is possible that regulatory regions, not analyzed in the present study, carry further variants related to POI. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: WES and the in silico analyses presented here represent an efficient approach for mapping variants associated with POI etiology. Sequence variants presented here represents potential future genetic biomarkers. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S): This study was supported by the Universidad del Rosario and Colciencias (Grants CS/CIGGUR-ABN062-2016 and 672-2014). Colciencias supported Liliana Catherine Patiño´s work (Fellowship: 617, 2013). The authors declare no conflict of interest.

A novel non genomic glucocorticoid signaling mediated by a membrane palmitoylated glucocorticoid receptor cross talks with GnRH in gonadotrope cells.

Glucocorticoid hormones (GC) are the main stress mediators associated with reproductive disorders. GC exert their effects through activation of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) principally acting as a transcription factor. Beside well-established GR-mediated genomic actions, several lines of evidence suggest a role for rapid membrane-initiated GC signaling in gonadotrope cells triggered by a membrane-associated GR. Herein, we demonstrate the existence of a specific membrane-initiated GC signaling in LßT2 gonadotrope cells involving two related phosphoproteins: Ca2+/Calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) and synapsin-I. Within 5 min, LßT2 cells treated with stress range of 10-7 M Corticosterone or a membrane impermeable-GC, BSA-conjugated corticosterone, exhibited a 2-fold increase in levels of phospho-CaMKII and phospho-synapsin-I. Biochemical approaches revealed that this rapid signaling is promoted by a palmitoylated GR. Importantly, GC significantly alter GnRH-induced CaMKII phosphorylation, consistent with a novel cross-talk between the GnRH receptor and GC. This negative effect of GC on GnRH signaling was further observed on LH release by mouse pituitary explants. Altogether, our work provides new findings in GC field by bringing novel understanding on how GR integrates plasma membrane, allowing GC membrane-initiated signaling that differs in presence of GnRH to disrupt GnRH-dependent signaling and LH secretion.

First mutation in the FSHR cytoplasmic tail identified in a non-pregnant woman with spontaneous ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Spontaneous ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (sOHSS) is a rare event occurring mostly during natural pregnancy. Among described etiologies, some activating mutations of FSH receptor (FSHR) have been identified. CASE PRESENTATION: We report hereby the case of a non-pregnant women with three episodes of sOHSS. Hormonal evaluation was normal and no pituitary adenoma was detected. However, genetic analysis identified a novel heterozygous FSHR mutation (c.1901 G > A). This R634H mutation is the first described in the cytoplasmic tail of the receptor. Functional analysis failed to reveal constitutive activity of the mutant but a decreased cAMP production in response to FSH. The weak activity of this mutant is correlated with a markedly reduced cell surface expression. CONCLUSION: Pathophysiology of non gestationnal sOHSS is still ill established. The molecular characterization of this new mutant indicates that it might not be at play. Therefore, further investigations are needed to improve knowledge of the molecular mechanism of this syndrome.

Anti-Müllerian Hormone and Ovarian Morphology in Women With Isolated Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism/Kallmann Syndrome: Effects of Recombinant Human FSH.

CONTEXT: Isolated hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (IHH), characterized by gonadotropin deficiency and absent puberty, is very rare in women. IHH prevents pubertal ovarian stimulation, but anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and antral follicle count (AFC) have not been studied. OBJECTIVES: (1) To compare, in IHH vs controls, AMH, ovarian volume (OV), and AFC. (2) To compare, in IHH, ovarian responses to recombinant human follicle-stimulating hormone (rhFSH) and rhFSH plus recombinant human luteinizing hormone (rhLH). SUBJECTS: Sixty-eight IHH women; 51 matched healthy women. METHODS: Serum LH, FSH, sex steroids, inhibin B (InhB), AMH, and OV and AFC (sonography) were compared. Ovarian response during rhFSH administration was assessed in 12 IHH women with low AMH levels and low AFC and compared with hormonal changes observed in six additional IHH women receiving rhFSH plus rhLH. RESULTS: InhB was lower in IHH than in controls. AMH levels were also significantly lower in the patients, but two-thirds had normal values. Mean OV and total, larger, and smaller AFCs were lower in IHH than in controls. Ovarian stimulation by rhFSH led to a significant increase in serum estradiol and InhB levels and in the number of larger antral follicles. AMH and smaller AFC increased early during rhFSH stimulation but then declined despite continued stimulation. rhFSH plus rhLH stimulation led to a significantly higher increase in estradiol levels but to similar changes in circulating InhB and AMH than with rhFSH alone. CONCLUSIONS: IHH women have both low AMH levels and low AFC. However, their decrease can be reversed by follicle-stimulating hormone. Serum AMH and AFC should not serve as prognostic markers of fertility in this population.

Familial Multiplicity of Estrogen Insensitivity Associated With a Loss-of-Function ESR1 Mutation.

Context: Estrogens influence many physiological processes in mammals, including reproduction. Estrogen peripheral actions are mainly mediated through estrogen receptors (ERs) α and ß, encoded by ESR1 and ESR2 genes, respectively. Objective: The study's aim was to describe a family in which 3 members presented with estrogen insensitivity. Design and Setting: Clinical evaluation and genetic and mutational analysis were performed in an academic medical center. Patients and Interventions: An ESR1 mutation was identified in 2 sisters and 1 brother, originating from a consanguineous Algerian family, who did not enter puberty and presented with delayed bone maturation consistent with estrogen insensitivity. The 2 sisters had enlarged multicystic ovaries. Hormonal evaluation as well as genetic and mutational analysis were performed. Results: Hormonal evaluation revealed extremely high plasma 17ß-estradiol (>50-fold normal range) associated with elevated gonadotropin levels (greater than threefold normal range), highly suggestive of estrogen resistance. The 3 affected patients carried a homozygous mutation of a highly conserved arginine 394 for which histidine was substituted through an autosomal recessive mode of transmission. Structural and functional analysis of the mutant ERα revealed strongly reduced transcriptional activity and the inability to securely anchor the activating hormone, estradiol, compared with wild-type ERα. A group of other potential ER activating ligands were tested, but none overcame the estrogen insensitivity in these patients. Conclusion: Description and analysis of this family of patients with mutant ERα provide additional clinical findings toward identification and characterization of what was previously thought to be a highly rare clinical condition.