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Growth‐Regulated α Expression in Human Preovulatory Follicles and Ovarian Cells
Author(s) -
Oral Engin,
Seli Emre,
Bahtiyar Mert O.,
Jones Ervin E.,
Arici Aydin
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
american journal of reproductive immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.071
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1600-0897
pISSN - 1046-7408
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0897.1997.tb00271.x
Subject(s) - stromal cell , ovulation , follicular phase , theca , follicular fluid , medicine , endocrinology , human chorionic gonadotropin , ovarian follicle , biology , andrology , tumor necrosis factor alpha , oocyte , microbiology and biotechnology , hormone , embryo
PROBLEM: Around the time of ovulation the number of neutrophils increases in the theca of the leading follicle. We hypothesized that growth‐regulated a (GROα), a neutrophil chemoattractant/activating factor, may be a modulator of periovulatory neutrophil chemotaxis. METHOD: GROα levels were measured in follicular fluids (n = 61). Granulosa‐lutein and ovarian stromal cells were also cultured. After experimental paradigms, GROα mRNA was evaluated by Northern analysis, GROα in follicular fluids, and culture supernatants were quantified using ELISA. RESULTS: In follicular fluids the mean pre‐human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) GROα level was 51 ± 24 (±SEM) pg/ml, post‐hCG it was 210 ± 20 pg/ml ( P = 0.04). GROα was produced constitutively by ovarian stromal and granulosa‐lutein cells. Interleukin‐α (IL‐1α) and tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) further stimulated GROα production. Treatment of stromal cells with hCG also stimulated GROα production. CONCLUSION: GROα is a constituent of periovulatory follicular fluid. Ovarian stromal and granulosa‐lutein cells express the GROα mRNA and produce the protein. The regulation of GROα by cytokines and hCG suggests that GROα may play a role in the process of ovulation.