GONADOTROPINS INDUCE THE RELEASE OF INTERLEUKIN-1-BETA, INTERLEUKIN-6AND TUMOR-NECROSIS-FACTOR-ALPHA FROM THE HUMAN PREOVULATORY FOLLICLE

PROBLEM: The effects of exogenous gonadotropin administration and ster oid levels on the release of various cytokines into the human follicul ar fluid (FF) were studied. METHOD OF STUDY: Forty patients were inclu ded in two groups, those undergoing controlled ovarian hyperstimulatio n (COH) (n = 33) and natural cycles (n = 7). FF transvaginal aspiratio ns were performed 36 hr after administration of human chorionic gonado tropin or a spontaneous surge of luteinizing hormone, respectively. FF cytokine measurements were performed with sensitive immunoassays. RES ULTS: FF cytokine levels were higher after COH [interleukin (IL)-1 bet a, 6.6 +/- 0.32 pg/ml; IL-6, 18.7 +/- 2.1 pg/ml; and tumor necrosis fa ctor (TNF)-alpha, 32.5 +/- 4.9 pg/ml] than in natural unstimulated cyc les (0.52 +/- 0.1 pg/ml, P < 0.001; 8.9 +/- 1.2 pg/ml, P < 0.01; and 1 3.2 +/- 2.6 pg/ml, P < 0.001, respectively). FF estradiol (E-2) and pr ogesterone levels were not statistically different between groups, des pite the higher serum E-2 levels observed in patients after COH. CONCL USIONS: Gonadotropins might regulate ovarian secretion of cytokines, b ecause FF IL-1 beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha levels after COH were higher than during natural cycles.