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Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) in folliculogenesis, and to evaluate the effect of these substances concerning oocyte maturation Methods Follicular fluids (FFs) were aspirated from the women undergoing in IVF-ET. Serum were collected from women in IVF-ET and normal menstrual cycles with informed consents. VEGF and HGF in FFs and serum were measured by ELISA. VEGF and HGF mRNA expression in the follicles were analyzed by reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) Results: The concentrations of VEGF in FFs were higher than those in serum [VEGF; 1909 pg/ml, 516 pg/ml (P < 0.001), HGF; 74.6 ng/ml, 0.83 ng/ml (P < 0.0001)] The levels of HGF in FF were increased correlated with oocyte maturation[immature; 62.9 ng/ml, mature 80.3 ng/ml (P < 0.05)] The levels of VEGF in FF including mature oocytes under 39-yearold-women were significantly decreased compared with these more than 40-year-old-women [less than 39 yrs; 1386.3 pg/ml, more than 40 yrs; 2682.7 pg/ml (P < 0.05)] Conclusion Our data suggest that VEGF and HGF as angiogenic factors may play an important role of follicular growth and development in human preovulatory processes. It is suggested that VEGF and HGF production might be available biochemical markers for oocyte maturation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective IL-8 and GRO-α have been demonstrated to be important modulators of neutrophil-chemotaxis in the inflammation-like mechanism of human ovulation. In this study, we investigated the possible effects of TGF-α and EGF on IL-8 and GRO-α secretion by granulosa cells Methods We used immortalized granulosa cells and granulosalutein cells with informed consents. Confluent cells were placed in serum-free media and treated with the above-mentioned growth factors for 8 hrs. IL-8 and GRO-α were measured in the culture media using an ELISA Results Treatment of immortalized granulosa cells with 10 nM of TGF-α and EGF produced higher levels of IL-8 than untreated cells by 8 hrs (241.8 ± 21.8, 261.4 ± 19.4 pg/ml; control = 125 ± 15 pg/ml; P < 0.0001). On the other hand, the same treatment produced slightly higher levels of GRO-α than untreated cells by 8 hrs. Treatment of granulosa-lutein cells with 1 nM of TGF-α and EGF produced higher levels of IL-8 than untreated cells by 8 h (980.1 ± 51.5, 1134.6 ± 76.2 pg/ml; control = 593.9 ± 30.2 pg/ml; P < 0.0001). Furthermore, the same treatment produced higher level of GRO-α than untreated cells after 8 h (P < 0.0005) Conclusion Given the significant effects of both TGF-α and EGF on IL-8 and GRO-α secretion by granulosa-lutein cells, our data suggest that TGF-α and EGF might play a role in the inflammatory mechanism of human ovulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To clarify the role of platelet-activating factor (PAF) in parturition, we have investigated the effect of sex-steroids on the PAF metabolism in the decidua. Methods The decidual macrophages were obtained from human decidua by enzymic digestion, followed by Ficoll-Paque centrifugation. The effects of estrone (E[sub 1]), estradiol (E[sub 2]), estriol (E[sub 3]), progesterone (P[sub 4]), and medroxy progesterone acetate (MPA) on the secretion of a PAF-inactivating enzyme, PAFacetylhydrolase (PAF-AH), by these cells were examined. The enzyme activity was assayed by the method of Miwa et al. This study was approved by our ethical committee. Results E[sub 2] inhibited PAF-AH secretion by decidual macrophages in a dose-dependent manner (IC50:82 ± 7 nM, n = 6). E[sub 3] also inhibited PAF-AH secretion (IC50:4153 ± 297 nM, n = 6); however, the effect was seen only at 50 time's higher concentrations than required for E[sub 2]-induced inhibition (P < 0.001). In contrast to E[sub 2] and E[sub 3], P[sub 4] and MPA increased the PAF-AH secretion by the decidual macrophages (SC50:206 ± 32 nM, 47 ± 3 nM, respectively, n = 6). E1 had no effect on the enzyme secretion. Conclusion Sex-steroids may modulate the concentration of PAF in the decidua via their inhibitory or stimulatory effect on the PAF-AH secretion by decidual macrophages, contributing to the regulation of PAF concentration at the maternal-fetal interface during parturition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]