Concentrations of immunoreactive interleukin-1 and interleukin-2 in human preovulatory follicular fluid.
The presence of immunoreactive interleukin-1 (IL-1) and interleukin-2 (IL-2) in human follicular fluid obtained at the time of oocyte collection for in-vitro fertilization was ascertained by radioimmunoassay. In group I (20 fluids from 20 patients), the concentrations of IL-1 were 0.9 +/- 0.06 and 1.9 +/- 0.04 (mean +/- SEM) fmol/l in follicular fluid and plasma respectively. A positive correlation existed between IL-1 levels in follicular fluid and plasma (r = 0.56, P less than 0.01). Concentrations of IL-2 were 3.5 +/- 0.2 and 6.1 +/- 0.3 fmol/l in follicular fluid and plasma respectively. A positive correlation of IL-2 levels was also found between follicular fluid and plasma (r = 0.65, P less than 0.01). There was no association between IL-1, IL-2 and steroid levels, regardless of whether they were compared in follicular fluid or plasma. Group II was composed of a series of fluids (two to seven samples for each of seven patients) in which the follicular concentrations of IL-1 and IL-2 did not show a positive correlation with the volume of follicular fluid or the concentrations of follicular fluid steroids. It is concluded that human preovulatory follicular fluid contains immunoreactive IL-1 and IL-2. The role of IL-1 and IL-2 in ovarian physiology remains to be determined.
Wang
L J
LJ
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Adelaide, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, South Australia.
Norman
R J
RJ
D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D015571:Follicular Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D005498:Follicular Phase; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000032:analysis*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis*; D010062:Ovulation Induction; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
D007375:Interleukin-1; D007376:Interleukin-2; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol