COLONY-STIMULATING FACTOR-I IN HUMAN FOLLICULAR-FLUID

Objective: To evaluate colony stimulating factor-1 (CSF-1) concentrati ons in serum and follicular fluid (FF) at the time of oocyte retrieval and to test for presence of messenger RNA (mRNA) for CSF-1 and its re ceptor, c-fms, in FF cells. Design: Collection of serum and FF at the time of oocyte retrieval. Setting: A university IVF program. Patient(s ): Forty-five women undergoing oocyte retrieval for IVF. Intervention( s): Serum and FF were obtained from 24 women: and FF only was obtained from 21 women. Main Outcome Measure(s): Colony-stimulating factor-1 c oncentrations were determined by RIA, and the presence of mRNA for CSF -1 and c-fms was determined by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Result(s): Mean FF concentrations of CSF-1 were significantl y higher than mean serum levels (10.0 +/- 1.3 and 3.6 +/- 0.3 (+/-SE) ng/mL, respectively). Colony-stimulating factor-1 and c-fms message we re detected in FF cells, and alternatively spliced forms of CSF-1 mess age were present. Conclusion(s): The presence of CSF-1, a primary regu lator of tissue macrophages, in FF, and the presence of mRNA for CSF-1 and its receptor c-fms in FF-derived cells, suggest a role for this g rowth factor in ovarian function. (C) 1997 by American Society for Rep roductive Medicine.