SOLUBLE INTERCELLULAR-ADHESION MOLECULE-1 IN OVARIAN FOLLICLES - PRODUCTION BY GRANULOSA-LUTEAL CELLS AND LEVELS IN FOLLICULAR-FLUID

Objective: To determine the concentration of the soluble form of inter cellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 in granulosa luteal cell-condition ed media and in follicular fluid (FF). Design: Granulosa cells and FF samples were obtained at the time of oocyte retrieval for IVF. In 10 w omen, a total of 33 fluids were obtained from individual follicles, wh ereas in 70 women, the follicular aspirates were pooled. Setting: Clin ica ''L,. Mangiagalli'' and Reproductive Center, San Raffaele Hospital , Milan, Italy. Patient(s): Eighty women referred for NF for tubal fac tor or male factor infertility. Intervention(s): Women underwent ovari an hyperstimulation. Main Outcome Measure(s): Soluble ICAM-1 was measu red by an ELISA, and its levels were correlated with follicular size, the number of retrieved oocytes, and the number of follicles with a di ameter of >15 mm. Result(s): The concentration of soluble ICAM-1 in gr anulosa luteal cell-conditioned media was 17.8 +/- 1.8 ng/5 X 10(5) ce lls. Interleukin-1 beta can stimulate soluble ICAM-1 release in a dose -dependent manner. A significant positive correlation was demonstrated between levels of soluble ICAM-1 in pooled FF and the number of retri eved oocytes or the number of follicles with a diameter of >15 mm. Con clusion(s): Soluble ICAM-1 can be released by granulosa luteal cells a nd can be detected in EF after ovarian hyperstimulation. Levels of sol uble ICAM-1 in FF correlate directly with some indices of ovarian func tion. (C) 1998 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.).