CHARACTERIZATION OF PERIPHERAL-BLOOD AND PERITONEAL-FLUID MONONUCLEARCELL SUBSETS IN FERTILE AND INFERTILE WOMEN

Mononuclear cell subpopulations from the peripheral blood (PB) and per itoneal fluid (PF) of fertile and infertile women were quantified by f low cytometry using a double-staining monoclonal antibody technique. N o differences in the percentage distribution of mononuclear cells betw een fertile and infertile women were demonstrated when either the PB c onstituents or the PF components were compared to one another. When th e mononuclear cell composition in the PB was compared with that in the PF however, the percentage of PF-activated T cells and monocytes was increased in both fertile and infertile women as opposed to that in th e PB, while there was a decrease in T helper cells (fertile and infert ile women) and natural killer cells (fertile women and infertile women with endometriosis). Even though shifts do exist in the immunocytes o f PF from fertile and infertile women, evidence is lacking that the PF is an immunologic mediator of infertility.