AMH gene expression level is promoted in the sertoli cells obtained from a patient with prostate cancer orchiectomy

Background and Aim: Testis is the reproductive organ of male sex and is composed of seminiferous tubules which are the site of spermatogenesis. These tubules are comprised of germ cells and somatic cells mainly the Sertoli cells (SC). Sertoli cells are the first cells of embryonic male gonad and they secrete some factors to support the development of Germ cells. AMH (anti-mullerian hormone) is exclusively secreted by Sertoli Cells and is the functional marker of fetal Sertoli cells. In prepubertal life of a man, AMH serum level is an indicator of testicular volume. During puberty, because of an increase in intratesticular testosterone level, AMH levels diminishes in RNA and Protein level and will be absent in adulthood. The aim of this study was to evaluate the RNA expression of AMH in three different adult male with different medical backgrounds.Methods: Three patients were selected. Patient ۱ (P۱), aged ۶۵, was a case of orchiectomy due to prostatic cancer with a previous history of antiandrogenic agent therapy. Patient ۲ and ۳ (P۲ and P۳) were two cases of Non Obstructive Azoospermia (NOA), aged ۴۰ and ۴۲, with a negative and positive Testicular Sperm Extraction (TESE) results respectively. After preparing the testicular tissues, according to the kanatsu shinohara protocol, tissue dissociation was done in two steps of mechanical and enzymatic digestion followed by a differential plating when the adherent cells were collected. Morphology of the cells was compatible to the sertoli cells and RT-PCR for SC markers was performed for their characterization.Results: Results of RT-PCR showed an amplified level of AMH expression in P۱ compared to P۲ and P۳. Moreover, sertoli cells of P۲ exhibited higher expression for AMH gene when compared to those of P۳.Conclusion: Our data suggest that transcription level of AMH may prove very informative about the state of the patients, in terms of response to therapy and male infertility etiology. For example, in some cases of infertility a trace of sertoli cell immaturity is recognizable, which may be diagnosable by molecular analysis of AMH gene expression.

Keywords:

Sertoli Cells , NOA (Non Obstructive Azoospermia) , AMH (Anti Mullerian Hormone) , TESE (Testicular Sperm Extraction) , prostate cancer , Orchiectomy