Involvement of macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) in the function of follicular granulosa cells.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the role of macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) in steroidogenesis by luteinized granulosa cells (GCs) and to examine the effect of FSH, E(2), and P on the production of M-CSF by GCs.

DESIGN

In vitro experimental study.

SETTING

University hospital with an IVF-intracytoplasmic sperm injection program.

PATIENT(S): Forty infertile women who underwent intracytoplasmatic sperm injection.

INTERVENTION(S): The GCs obtained from these patients during oocyte retrieval were cultured and then treated with different concentrations of M-CSF, FSH, E(2), or P for 72 hours.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): The M-CSF concentrations were determined by ELISA, and the concentrations of E(2) and P were measured by enzyme immunoassay.

RESULT(S): The M-CSF secretion of GCs was enhanced by FSH or E(2) in vitro in a dose-dependent manner but was unaffected by P. On the other hand, M-CSF elicited a production of E(2) and P by GCs in a dose-dependent manner in the presence or absence of FSH.

CONCLUSION(S): The results suggest that the growth factor M-CSF might have an important role in ovarian function.