INTERFERON-GAMMA AND INTERLEUKIN-10 LEVELS IN PREIMPLANTATION EMBRYO CULTURE MEDIA

Purpose: The aim of our study is to elucidate whether human oocytes/em bryos secrete IFN gamma and/or IL-10 and whether the fertilization pro cess depends on the balance between these cytokines. Methods: A total of 142 embryo culture media from 24 patients were collected and the cy tokine levels were tested with ELISA. Results: IFN gamma and IL-10 wer e detectable in 40.1% and 29.6% of culture media respectively. The dif ference of IFN gamma and IL-10 levels in media from fertilized oocytes between day 1 and day 2 are significant (0.46 vs. 1.47 and 34.2 vs. 1 2.7, respectively). However there was no significant difference betwee n the IFN gamma levels of the media from fertilized and nonfertilized oocytes 0.46 vs. 0.85 at day 1 and 1.47 vs. 1.49 at day 2, as well as IL-10 levels 34.2 vs. 30.9 at day 1 and 12.7 vs. 9.58 al day 2 respect ively . Conclusions: Human preimplantation embryos secrete the cytokin es IFN gamma and IL-10. No effect of these cytokines on fertilization process could be shown.