Effect of interleukin-2 on steroidogenesis of goat ovary

Interleukins are best known for their role during inflammation. In the ovary, ovarian follicle is a site of inflammatory reaction. Thus, ovarian cells could represent sources and targets of interleukins. To explore this, we have examined the effect of interleukin-2 on follicle stimulating hormone-stimulated steroidogenesis in normal granulosa cells of antral follicles in vitro. In the presence of FSH, interleukin-2 at dose level 25, 50 and 100 ng/ml stimulated progesterone production in granulosa cells in a dose dependent manner and maximum stimulatory effect was achieved with 100 ng/ml. Interleukin-2 inhibited estradiol production in the same manner and maximum inhibition was achieved with 100 ng/ml. The present findings suggest that interleukins exert stimulatory and inhibitory effects over granulosa cells steroidogenesis. Thus, these factors play an important role in the regulation, ovarian development and growth of modifying granulosa steroidogenic functions.