Significance of ovarian macrophages in the follicular aspirates from ART patients.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the percentages of macrophages present in granulosa cells (GC) cultures from patients with different responses to the hyperstimulation, in relation to the percentages of apoptotic cells (ApC), as well as to the release of cytokines.


METHODS
We studied 42 patients: 12 Hyporesponders, (with < or =4 follicles), 15 Normoresponders, (5-14 follicles), and 15 Hyperresponders, (> or =15 follicles). In GC cultures percentages of macrophages and ApC were counted and, in the conditioned media, cytokines were measured.


RESULTS
Percentages of macrophages were significantly higher in GC cultures from Hyporesponders compared with Hyperresponders patients. Also, the percentages of ApC cells were the highest in Hyporesponders. On the contrary, cytokines concentrations were the lowest in this group.


CONCLUSIONS
The low ovarian response is probably due to the decreased angiogenesis, which in turn produces increased apoptosis and decreased production of cytokines. The increased percentage of macrophages could be related to increased frequency of apoptotic cells.
Barañao
Rosa Inés
RI
Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (National Research Council), Buenos Aires, Argentina. rbaranao@dna.uba.ar
Quintana
Ramiro
R
Martín
Alina
A
Kopcow
Laura
L
Marconi
Guillermo
G
Sueldo
Carlos
C
D000328:Adult; D017209:Apoptosis; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006107:Granulosa Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000032:analysis; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000032:analysis; D008264:Macrophages / Q000473:pathology*; D009865:Oocytes; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000473:pathology; D010053:Ovary / Q000473:pathology*; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000032:analysis
D016207:Cytokines; D007375:Interleukin-1; D015850:Interleukin-6; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D004958:Estradiol; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone