ANTI-MÜLLERIAN HORMONE SERUM CONCENTRATION IN PREPUBERTAL EWE LAMBS AS A MARKER OF THEIR FECUNDITY

Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) was considered to be one of the most endocrine markers that playing a major role in the prediction of the most future productive animals. The objective of this study was to predict the fertility of young ewe lambs through a single estimation of AMH in their early breeding life. Twenty clinically healthy Barki ewe lambs, 8-10 months age. The ewes were shown to have normal cyclic activity before the beginning of the experiment. The body weight was ranged from 20-30 kg. The current work was conducted on Animal Reproduction Research Institute-Sheep farm. Inspected ewes were still under observation with collection of the required samples during the period of the study. Trans rectal Ultrasonography was used for following up the progress of pregnancy and number of fetuses. Assay of AMH, progesterone and estradiol, in the conceived and control animals were determined till the parturition (end of the study). There was significant (P<0.05) increase in the serum AMH concentration in group conceived from first service. Meanwhile, a
significant increased (P<0.05) of estradiol level in the group conceived from second service. In the same time, there was no significant variation in progesterone level between the two groups. In conclusion, serum AMH concentration is a good predictive biomarker for fertility in ewe lambs at the beginning of their breeding life.