The correlation between TNF-α,IL-6 in cervical mucous during follicular development and ovulation stimulation in different protocols

Objective:To investigate the correlation between TNF-α and IL-6 levels in cervical mucous during follicular development and ovulation stimulation in different protocols.Methods:36 infertile women were set up as experimental groups,divided into CC,HMG,IVF-ET group,each group consisted of 12 infertile women and 15 women with normal menstrual cycles were choiced as control group.Cervical mucous during follicular phase,luteal phase and ovulation phase were collected.TNF-a,IL-6 levels in cervical mucous were measured by radioimmunology assay(RIA).Follicular development were monitored by transvaginal ultrasonagraphy.Results:(1)TNF-α levels in cervical mucous of experimental groups and control group were periodically various among the reproductive cycle.It increased during follicular phase,reached to peak during ovulation phase,and decreased during luteal phase(P<0.05).IL-6 levels had no obvious periodical changes.(2)Compared with CC and control group,levels of TNF-α,IL-6 in HMG and IVF-ET group were significantly higher(P<0.05).(3)Levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in cervical mucous were positively correlated with the dominant follicle diameter(r=0.261,r=0.192 respectively,P<0.05).(4)TNF-α and IL-6 showed positive correlation in the reproductive cycle(r=0.782,P<0.05).Conclusions:(1)TNF-α level shows a cyclic change in the reproductive cycle and peaks during ovulation,whereas IL-6 level does not.(2)TNF-α and IL-6 may play a certain role in the process of follicular development and ovulation.(3)The levels of TNF-α and IL-6 are up-regulated by gonadotrophic hormone.(4)TNF-α and IL-6 may have coordination properties and participate in the same biological effects.

Effects of leptin and neuropeptide Y on function of human ovarian granulosa cells in vitro

Objective: To investigate the effects of leptin and neuropeptide Y on steroidogenesis of human ovarian granulosa cells in vitro. Methods: Human ovarian granulosa cells were isolated from follicular fluid obtained during oocyte retrieval of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer program and cultured for 2 days with various concentration of leptin(1,10,100 ng/ml) or neuropeptide Y (1×10-6, 1×10-7, 1×10-8 mol/L) alone or both,or with the combination of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG 0, 20 IU/L). The medium was collected for estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P) measurements. Results: (1)Whether hCG existed or not, the adding of leptin did not alter estradiol and progesterone production by human granulosa cells (P>0.05).(2) Only when the concentration of neuropeptide Y was at 1×10-7mol/L,estradiol level was lower than that in the control (P<0.05).(3) The levels of estradiol in neuropeptide Y (1×10-7mol/L) plus hCG group were significantly higher than those with neuropeptide Y alone(P<0.05). (4) In the absence of hCG, the levels of estradiol in neuropeptide Y (1×10-7mol/L)plus leptin (10 ng/ml) group were significantly higher than those with neuropeptide Y(1×10-7mol/L)alone(P<0.05).Conclusions: (1)Leptin alone produced no direct effect on secretion of E2 and P from granulosa cells in vitro.(2)Neuropeptide Y alone may inhibit the secretion of E2, but the inhibition would probably be blocked with the presentation of hCG.(3)Leptin probably blocked the inhibition of neuropeptide Y on E2 secretion, and this may indicate that there were some coordination between leptin and neuropeptid Y on the level of ovarian function.