IVF Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about IVF, including details on in vitro fertilization, infertility, treatment, procedure, pregnancy, success rates.

Expression of mRNA and protein of macrophage colony-stimulating factor and its receptor in human follicular luteinized granulosa cells.

Salmassi A, Zhang Z, Schmutzler AG, Koch K, Buck S, Jonat W, Mettler L

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Campus Kiel, University Hospitals Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the concentration of macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) in serum and follicular fluid (FF) at the time of oocyte retrieval and to detect expression of M-CSF and its receptor by luteinized granulosa cells (GCs). DESIGN: Collection of serum and FF at the time of oocyte retrieval. SETTING: A university IVF- intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) program. PATIENT(S): Serum and FF were obtained from 85 women undergoing oocyte retrieval. INTERVENTION(S): Serum and FF were obtained from 85 women. The GCs were pooled from 15 (3 x 5) patients (3-14 oocytes each). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): The M-CSF concentration was determined by ELISA, the expression of M-CSF and its receptor by the immunocytochemical technique and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis. In addition, M-CSF expression was investigated by cell culture time course studies. RESULTS: The median M-CSF concentration in FF (2,409.2 pg/mL) was significantly higher than that in serum (242.5 pg/mL). The M-CSF and its receptor were expressed by GCs. CONCLUSION(S): The significantly higher level of M-CSF in FF than in serum and the expression of M-CSF and its receptor in FF by GCs suggest an important role for this growth factor in ovarian function.

Published 11 February 2005 in Fertil Steril, 83(2): 419-25.
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