Immunohistochemical Localization of the Interleukin-1 System in the Mouse Ovary during Follicular Growth, Ovulation, and Luteinization1

Abstract

The distribution of immunoreactive interleukin-1 receptor type I (IL-1R tI), IL-1 alpha, and IL-1 beta, and of macrophages, was investigated immunohistochemically in the mouse ovary during follicular growth, ovulation, and luteinization. For this purpose, an indirect immunofluorescence technique, using specific monoclonal antibodies against mouse IL-1R tI, mouse IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, and macrophage antigens (CD11b/CD18) was used with sections of paraffin-embedded ovaries from eCG and eCG/hCG-treated 12-wk-old B6C3F-1 female mice. During follicular development, IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, and IL-1R tI staining were confined to the theca-interstitial layer of growing follicles with one remarkable exception. Intense IL-1R tI still staining was present in the cytoplasm and plasma membrane of the murine oocyte. During ovulation, IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta were still confined to the theca layer, but faint IL-1R tI staining was initiated in cumulus cells and in granulosa cells just before follicle rupture. Immediately after follicle rupture, granulosa cells stained positive for IL-1R tI, IL-1 alpha, and IL-1 beta. During luteinization, granulosa-luteal cells of the corpus luteum demonstrated strong IL-1R tI, IL-1 alpha, and IL-1 beta staining. Macrophages were detected in the theca layer and stroma, but never within the follicle before ovulation. Immediately after ovulation, there was a rapid entry of macrophages into the follicle, and macrophages were also present inside the corpus luteum. Our morphological results support a possible autocrine-paracrine role of the mouse ovarian IL-1 system in ovulation and luteinization.

Detection of Interleukin-1.BETA. in Sera and Colostrum of Dairy Cattle and in Sera of Neonates.

“…The ovulatory process could be considered as an inflammatory reaction [7], and leukocytes, especially neutrophils and monocytes/macrophages, have been shown to infiltrate the ovaries just before ovulation [2,5,8]. It has been suggested that IL-1β derived from infiltrating leukocytes enhanced ovulation [3,10,20,21]. Therefore, IL-1β is indicated to begin to appear in serum of dairy cattle at around artificial insemination, probably at ovulation, and to persist at higher level during pregnancy and to decline serum IL-1β on day 3 was significantly higher than that in colostrum fed to newborns with no detectable serum IL-1β.…”

Inhibition by gonadotropins of interleukin-1 production by rabbit granulosa and theca cells: effects on gonadotropin-induced progesterone production

“…Although macrophages were not removed from our cell preparations it is unlikely that local IL-1 production could be attributed to these cells. In the pre-ovulatory ovary from different species, white blood cells are located in the medulla or theca layer, but are not usually detectable in granulosa until ovulation (26,27). Our study was carried out on rabbit pre-ovulatory follicles.…”

Identification, structural characterization, and tissue distribution of Tsg-5: a new TNF-stimulated gene

“…Several studies have demonstrated the constitutive expression of TNF, IL-1b, and their receptors in the thymus and ovary [37][38][39][40][41][42] and we could speculate a role of these cytokines in maintaining the constitutive expression of Tsg-5 observed in these organs. Therefore, we used TNF- 43 and TNFRSF1A-deficient 44 mice to investigate their role in regulation of constitutive expression of Tsg-5 gene.…”