Effect of interleukin 6 on basal and FSH-stimulated secretion of estradiol and progesterone by human granulosa cells in vitro

Aim: To determine the effects of interleukin-6 (IL-6) on the secretion ofestradiol and progesterone by human granulosa cells in vitro. Methods:Granulosa cells were obtained from infertile patients undergoing IVF ETtreatment and cultured with serum-free supplemented HAM's F10 medium.In the absence or presence of FSH, granulosa cells were treated with differ-ent concentrations of gene recombinant human iterlukin-6 (rhIL-6). Themedia were collected after 24, 48, 72 and 96 h and assayed for estradiol andprogesterone. IL-6 and R mRNA was determined by means of RNA slotblot. Results: IL-6 had a significant inhibitory effect on estradiol secre-tion, especially in the presence of FSH. IL-6 inhibited the FSH-stimulatedprogesterone secretion, but not the basal progesterone release. The inhibi-tion shows certain degrees of dose- and time-dependency. Conclusion:IL-6 participates in the regulation of ovarian function through its inhibitoryeffect on FSH-stimulated steroidogenesis by granulosa cells.