PROBLEM: The effects of exogenous gonadotropin administration and steroid levels on the release of various cytokines into the human follicular fluid (FF) were studied. METHOD OF STUDY: Forty patients were included in two groups, those undergoing controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) (n = 33) and natural cycles (n = 7). FF transvaginal aspirations were performed 36 hr after administration of human chorionic gonadotropin or a spontaneous surge of luteinizing hormone, respectively. FF cytokine measurements were performed with sensitive immunoassays. RESULTS: FF cytokine levels were higher after COH [interleukin (IL)-1 beta, 6.6 +/- 0.32 pg/ml; IL-6, 18.7 +/- 2.1 pg/ml; and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, 32.5 +/- 4.9 pg/ml] than in natural unstimulated cycles (0.52 +/- 0.1 pg/ml, P < 0.001; 8.9 +/- 1.2 pg/ml, P < 0.01; and 13.2 +/- 2.6 pg/ml, P < 0.001, respectively). FF estradiol (E2) and progesterone levels were not statistically different between groups, despite the higher serum E2 levels observed in patients after COH. CONCLUSIONS: Gonadotropins might regulate ovarian secretion of cytokines, because FF IL-1 beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha levels after COH were higher than during natural cycles.
PROBLEM: The effects of exogenous gonadotropin administration and steroid levels on the release of various cytokines into the human follicular fluid (FF) were studied. METHOD OF STUDY: Forty patients were included in two groups, those undergoing controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) (n = 33) and natural cycles (n = 7). FF transvaginal aspirations were performed 36 hr after administration of human chorionic gonadotropin or a spontaneous surge of luteinizing hormone, respectively. FF cytokine measurements were performed with sensitive immunoassays. RESULTS: FF cytokine levels were higher after COH [interleukin (IL)-1 beta, 6.6 +/- 0.32 pg/ml; IL-6, 18.7 +/- 2.1 pg/ml; and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, 32.5 +/- 4.9 pg/ml] than in natural unstimulated cycles (0.52 +/- 0.1 pg/ml, P < 0.001; 8.9 +/- 1.2 pg/ml, P < 0.01; and 13.2 +/- 2.6 pg/ml, P < 0.001, respectively). FF estradiol (E2) and progesterone levels were not statistically different between groups, despite the higher serum E2 levels observed in patients after COH. CONCLUSIONS: Gonadotropins might regulate ovarian secretion of cytokines, because FF IL-1 beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha levels after COH were higher than during natural cycles.
Authors: Diego Crespo; Emilie Bonnet; Nerea Roher; Simon A MacKenzie; Aleksei Krasnov; Frederick W Goetz; Julien Bobe; Josep V Planas Journal: Reprod Biol Endocrinol Date: 2010-04-12 Impact factor: 5.211