AntiMüllerian Hormone: New Perspectives for a Sexist Molecule

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Abstract
Introduction ANTIMÜLLERIA hormone (AMH) started out as a concept and a string of terms. Jost (1) was the first to suggest that regression of Müllerian ducts in male fetuses is mediated by a discrete testicular factor, different from testosterone. He named this factor hormone inhibitrice or antifeminine factor because it inhibits the development of female characteristics of fetal genital ducts in contrast to testosterone, which promotes the differentiation of male-specific organs. Other names given this molecule are Müllerian inhibitor, Jost's factor X, Müllerian-inhibitory factor (MIF), or Müllerian-inhibiting substance (MIS). Our group prefers AMH, and, for the sake of simplicity, we use this term in this review. Research in this area, triggered initially by the development of an in vitro bioassay for the hormone (2), has generated more data than can be incorporated in a review of reasonable length. This article will focus on issues not covered by previous reviews of the subject (3, 4), and aspects which have come to light after the purification of AMH to homogeneity (5) and the cloning of its complementary DNA (cDNA) (6) and gene (7).

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