Anti-Mullerian hormone and its receptors

Anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH). a member of the transforming growth facror-beta family, is an important factor of male sex differentiation. It is produced by Sertoli cells from the time of fetal sex differentiation to puberty. AMH is also produced by granulosa cells from the time of birth to the end of ovarian activity. As other members of the transforming growth factor-p family, AMH signals through two related but distinct receptors. both serine/threonine kinases with a single transmembrane domain, called type II and type I. The type II receptor has been cloned in 1994 and is expressed solely in AMH target organs. Engagement of the type I receptor BMPR-1B and downstream effector Smadl by AMH has recently been demonstrated, however, its role in AMH biological actions remains to be proven. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.