EFFECT OF HUMAN AND MURINE INTERFERON-ALPHA ON STEROID-PRODUCTION BY RAT OVARIAN-CELLS

The effect of interferon on the rat ovarian cell function was investig ated. Cells from the ovary of juvenile rats were used as a model to in vestigate the effect of IFN-alpha on the secretion of estradiol and te stosterone. In addition the effect of human IFN-alpha (hIFN-alpha) on the secretion of testosterone by the rat adult testis was studied. Pre sent results show that leukocyte hIFN-alpha decreased the human chorio nic gonadotropin (hCG) stimulated secretion of estradiol and testoster one by ovarian cells, and the production of testosterone by testis cel ls. Basal secretion of steroids was affected later and in less proport ion than the hCG-dependent production. The IFN-alpha obtained from mur ine leukocytes, also inhibited the response of ovarian cells to the hC G stimulus. The nature of this effect in the secretion of the steroids is dose and time-dependent. The incubation of hIFN-alpha with an spec ific antibody completely blocked the effect of the cytokine on ovarian cells.