Effect of mifepristone on the expression of cytokines in the human Fallopian tube

Cytokines are believed to play a critical role as mediators between the oviduct and the developing embryo. A synchronous development of embryo and endometrium is essential to successful implantation. It seems to be beneficial for embryo develop-ment to rest for some time in the Fallopian tube. Expression of cytokines in the human Fallopian tube and the effect of mife-pristone were investigated. Fourteen women with regular menstrual cycles and proven fertility, admitted to the hospital for tubal ligation, were randomly allocated to control or treatment groups. Mifepristone 200 mg was given on day LH 1 2. Sur-gery was performed on day LH 1 3 to LH 1 5. Biopsies were obtained from the ampullar and isthmic regions of the tubes. Expression of interleukin 8 (IL-8), tumour necrosis factor a (TNFa), transforming growth factor b (TGFb) and leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF) was analysed using immunohistochemistry. All cytokines except IL-8 showed the same staining intensity both in the ampullar and isthmic region, while IL-8 was more pronounced in the ampullar region in both epithelial and stro-mal cells. Exposure to mifepristone made the spatial difference in IL-8 disappear and increased the expression of TNFa in the epithelium of the isthmus, but had no effect on the expression of TGFb1 or LIF. Changes in cytokine expression in the Fallo-pian tube are likely to influence embryo development, which could contribute to the contraceptive effect of mifepristone. Key words: contraception/cytokines/Fallopian tube/mifepriston