Anti-Müllerian hormone and antral follicular count in early and delayed pubertal Murrah buffalo heifers

The present study was designed to determine the relationship between Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), antral follicular count (AFC) and body weight (BW) in early and delayed pubertal buffalo heifers. Out of 72 heifers screened ultrasonographically, 19 heifers were selected based on age, BW and attainment of puberty for the present investigation. They were divided into two groups (Group I, n=12; Group II, n=7). Group I heifers (age: 30-40 months; BW: 370-468 kg) showed no signs of puberty whereas Group II heifers (age: 18-29 months, BW: 279-318 kg) attained puberty. Total number of all visible antral follicles >1 mm were counted and cyclicity status was monitored at monthly interval. Single blood sample was collected for estimation of serum AMH concentration once the heifers were adjudged cyclic by the presence of corpus luteum. We found lower AMH concentration in delayed pubertal heifers (0.099±0.006 ng/ml) as compared to early pubertal heifers (0.17±0.03 ng/ml) but, difference was not significant (p=0.0788). Likewise, AMH showed non-significant correlation with AFC and BW in both groups. But, there was significant relationship between BW and AFC in delayed (r=0.79; p=0.00) and early (r=0.86; p=0.01) pubertal heifers. In conclusion, this study indicates non-significant difference between AMH and AFC in early and delayed pubertal heifers. Moreover, AMH had no correlation with AFC and BW, but BW was highly correlated with AFC in both study groups.