Significance of ovarian macrophages in the follicular aspirates from ART patients

BARAÑAO RI; QUINTANA R.; MARTÍN A; KOPKOW L.; MARCONI G.; SUELDO C.

JOURNAL OF ASSISTED REPRODUCTION AND GENETICS.

Año: 2007 vol. 24 p. 137 - 142

1058-0468

Purpose: To evaluate the percentages of macrophages present in granulosa cells (GC) cultures from patients with different responses to the hyperstimulation, in relation to the percentages of apoptotic cells (ApC), as well as to the release of cytokines. Methods: We studied 42 patients: 12 Hyporesponders, ( with £ 4 follicles), 15 Normoresponders , (5 –14 follicles), and 15 Hyperresponders, (³15 follicles). In GC cultures percentages of macrophages and ApC were counted and, in the conditioned media, cytokines were measured. Results: Percentages of macrophages were significantly higher in GC cultures from Hyporesponders compared with Hyperresponders patients. Also, the percentages of ApC cells were the highest in Hyporesponders. On the contrary, cytokines concentrations were the lowest in this group. Conclusions: The low ovarian response is probably due to the decreased angiogenesis, which in turn produces increased apoptosis and decreased production of cytokines. The increased percentage of macrophages could be related to increased frequency of apoptotic cells.