title: Cytokine levels in follicular fluid of polycystic ovaries in patients treated with dexamethasone.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the levels of cytokines in the follicular fluid of stimulated ovaries.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included two groups of four patients with polycystic ovarian disease. These were diagnosed by clinical and ultrasonic features and characteristic hormonal profiles, treated with gonadotropin-releasing hormone-analogue and human menopausal gonadotropin. One group received dexamethasone (DEX).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Dexamethasone is capable of directly affecting granulosa and immune cells. It was also expected to affect cytokine production of granulosa and immune cells of the ovary.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This study demonstrates that FF from patients treated with DEX has reduced tumor necrosis factor (TNF) activity and elevated colony-stimulating factor levels. Regardless of the treatment with DEX, the follicles with high levels of TNF contained minimal concentrations of estradiol. Interleukin-6 did not differ between the FF samples.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest a role for cytokines in the process of folliculogenesis and ovarian maturation. Modification of cytokines by DEX might explain the beneficial effect of fertility.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zolti
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bider
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Seidman
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mashiach
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ben-Rafael
mesh_terms: D003115:Colony-Stimulating Factors / Q000032:analysis; D016207:Cytokines / Q000032:analysis*; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000032:analysis; D008596:Menotropins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000378:metabolism*; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D011336:Probability; D011374:Progesterone / Q000032:analysis; D017329:Triptorelin Pamoate / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D003115:Colony-Stimulating Factors; D016207:Cytokines; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D017329:Triptorelin Pamoate; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; C019176:Tryptal; D008596:Menotropins; D003907:Dexamethasone