title: Detection of T8 (suppressor/cytotoxic) lymphocytes in human ovarian follicular fluid.
abstract: Clear ovarian follicular fluid and the follicular flush (bloody) of aspirated follicles from 18 women undergoing oocyte retrieval for in vitro fertilization were tested for the presence of T-lymphocyte subpopulations with the use of a panel of monoclonal antibodies in indirect immunofluorescence assay. A sample of peripheral venous blood from each patient was run as a control. There was no difference in the percentage of cells positive for the various markers between bloody follicular fluid (i.e., ovarian blood) and peripheral venous blood. T8-positive (suppressor/cytotoxic) lymphocytes were recovered from all clear follicular fluids; ten of the patients exhibited a dramatically decreased T4/T8 ratio (peripheral blood, 2:1; clear follicular fluid, 1:25; P less than 0.001). These lymphocytes may be involved in the suppression of autoimmune responses directed against ovarian antigens.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification*