EVIDENCE FOR A NEUTROPHIL-INTERLEUKIN-8 SYSTEM IN HUMAN FOLLICULOGENESIS

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to determine whether polymorphonuc lear leukocytes (neutrophils) and the potent chemoattractant interleuk in-8 are associated with follicle development in the normal human ovar y. STUDY DESIGN: We performed a morphometric analysis of neutrophils i n 268 human ovarian follicles, of which 199 were preantral and 69 were antral. In each antral follicle the numbers of mitotic, apoptotic, an d total granulosa cells were counted to determine healthy and atretic follicles. Interleukin-8 protein and messenger ribonucleic acid were d etected by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization, respectivel y. RESULTS: Antral follicles contained relatively large numbers of neu trophils within the theca vasculature. The density of neutrophil was t wofold greater (p < 0.05) in atretic versus healthy follicles. The neu trophil index (neutrophils/granulosa cells x 1000) was inversely corre lated to the number of granulosa cells per follicle. Immunoreactive in terleukin-8 was detected in the theca and granulosa cells of most all antral follicles examined. Interleukin-8 messenger ribonucleic acid wa s demonstrated in theca and granulosa cells of some but not all follic les examined. CONCLUSIONS: Neutrophils are present in the theca of dev eloping antral follicles, increase in number during atresia, and are a ssociated with expression of interleukin-8 in the follicle wall.