OVARIAN PRODUCTION OF IL6 AND ITS POTENTIAL INHIBITORY EFFECT ON PROGESTERONE SECRETION IN CYNOMOLGUS-FASCICULARIS

We explored the potential relevance of interleukin-6 (IL6) to ovarian function in cynomolgus monkey females which were treated to induce mul tiple follicular growth. Present work gave evidences that IL6 was prod uced in the ovulatory follicle after hCG administration by using anti- IL6 monoclonal antibody and immunoshistochemical techniques. IL6 was p roduced by granulosa cells in cultures. However, this production was n ot stimulated by adding to cultures FSH or Bt2cAMP, known to induce IL 6 production in various cell types. IL6 was shown to antagonize lutein izing FSH effects. Inhibitory IL6 effect was probably mediated at a si te distal to cAMP generation since it had no effect on progesterone pr oduction induced by dibutyryl cAMP treatment. The presence of IL6 in t he ovulatory follicle show that inflammatory cytokines may play a role at ovulation. On the other hand, its inhibitory effect on progesteron e production by granulosa cells could not likely affect the process of luteinization which is controlled by LH/hCG.