Growth‐Regulated α Expression in Human Preovulatory Follicles and Ovarian Cells

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Abstract
PROBLEM: Around the time of ovulation the number of neutrophils increases in the theca of the leading follicle. We hypothesized that growth-regulated a (GROα), a neutrophil chemoattractant/activating factor, may be a modulator of periovulatory neutrophil chemotaxis. METHOD: GROα levels were measured in follicular fluids (n = 61). Granulosa-lutein and ovarian stromal cells were also cultured. After experimental paradigms, GROα mRNA was evaluated by Northern analysis, GROα in follicular fluids, and culture supernatants were quantified using ELISA. RESULTS: In follicular fluids the mean pre-human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) GROα level was 51 ± 24 (±SEM) pg/ml, post-hCG it was 210 ± 20 pg/ml (P = 0.04). GROα was produced constitutively by ovarian stromal and granulosa-lutein cells. Interleukin-α (IL-1α) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) further stimulated GROα production. Treatment of stromal cells with hCG also stimulated GROα production. CONCLUSION: GROα is a constituent of periovulatory follicular fluid. Ovarian stromal and granulosa-lutein cells express the GROα mRNA and produce the protein. The regulation of GROα by cytokines and hCG suggests that GROα may play a role in the process of ovulation.