Defective AMH signaling disrupts GnRH neuron development and function and contributes to hypogonadotropic hypogonadism

Abstract

Altres ajuts: Horizon 2020 Marie Sklodowska-Curie actions - European Research Fellowship (H2020-MSCA-IF-2017). Support of COST Action CM1306 is kindly acknowledged. LAC thanks Generalitat de Catalunya for her Ph.D. grant. LM thanks the 'Talent 2017' program from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona.

Congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (CHH) is a condition characterized by absent puberty and infertility due to gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) deficiency, which is often associated with anosmia (Kallmann syndrome, KS). We identified loss-of-function heterozygous mutations in anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and its receptor, AMHR2, in 3% of CHH probands using whole-exome sequencing. We showed that during embryonic development, AMH is expressed in migratory GnRH neurons in both mouse and human fetuses and unconvered a novel function of AMH as a pro-motility factor for GnRH neurons. Pathohistological analysis of Amhr2- deficient mice showed abnormal development of the peripheral olfactory system and defective embryonic migration of the neuroendocrine GnRH cells to the basal forebrain, which results in reduced fertility in adults. Our findings highlight a novel role for AMH in the development and function of GnRH neurons and indicate that AMH signaling insufficiency contributes to the pathogenesis of CHH in humans