Hormone Levels in Lipizzaner Mares: Age Matters

Did you know that the anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) plays a big role in a mare's fertility? This hormone, produced by granulosa cells, shows how many growing follicles are in an ovary. A recent study looked into this hormone in Lipizzaner broodmares. The study involved 23 mares, ranging from 6 to 24 years old. They were split into two groups: one with mares aged 6 to 15 years, and the other with mares older than 15 years. Blood samples were taken, and the mares' ovaries were checked using ultrasound. It was found that AMH levels varied a lot between the two groups. Older mares had much lower AMH levels compared to their younger counterparts. Also, the study showed that the more medium and large follicles a mare had, the higher her AMH levels were. This means that a mare's AMH level can give an idea of how many follicles she has. Interestingly, the time of year didn't seem to affect AMH levels. So, whether it's spring, summer, fall, or winter, the hormone levels stayed the same.