[Effect of estradiol and progesterone on production of macrophage colony-stimulating factor by human granulosa cells in vitro].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of estradiol (E(2)) and progesterone (P) on macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) production by human luteinized granulosa cells in vitro.

METHODS

Human luteinized granulosa cells were isolated from follicular fluid of superovulated infertile patients undergoing intracytoplasmatic sperm injection (ICSI). Luteinized granulosa cells were cultured with HAM's F-10 medium with various concentrations of E(2) or P (0, 1 x 10(-7), 1 x 10(-6), 1 x 10(-5), 1 x 10(-4), 1 x 10(-3) mol/L). Media were removed at 72 h after culture. M-CSF in media was measured by a solid phase enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) and estradiol and progesterone in media were measured by enzyme immunoassays (EIA).

RESULTS

The basic concentration of M-CSF in cultivated granulosa cells without E(2) stimulation was low (47 +/- 15 ng/L). However, E(2) at concentrations of 1 x 10(-6) - 1 x 10(-3) mol/L caused a significant increase of M-CSF secretion by luteinized granulosa cells in a dose-dependent mode (2.3, 4.5, 6.9, 7.9 times higher than the basic level, respectively) (P < 0.05). E(2) at a concentration of 1 x 10(-7) mol/L, however, did not stimulate the production of M-CSF (P > 0.05). P at concentrations of 1 x 10(-7) - 1 x 10(-3) mol/L showed no effect on M-CSF production by luteinized granulosa cells (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Estradiol can stimulate M-CSF production by luteinized granulosa cells in vitro in a dose-dependent mode, on the other hand P cannot induce M-CSF production by luteinized granulosa cells. The mechanism of estradiol regulating follicular development may partially via M-CSF/receptor pathway.