Altered expression of IL-1β, IL-1RI, IL-1RII, IL-1RA and IL-4 could contribute to anovulation and follicular persistence in cattle

Cystic ovarian disease (COD) is an important cause of infertility in dairy cattle. The main signs of this infertility are ovulation failure and follicular persistence. The aim of this study was to examine the expression of the cytokines IL-1β, IL-1RI, IL-1RII, IL-1RA and IL-4 in ovarian follicular structures at different times of persistence in a model of follicular persistence induced by prolonged administration of progesterone in dairy cows. Protein expression of IL-1β, IL-1RI, IL-1RII, IL-1RA and IL-4 was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Additionally, IL-1β and IL-4 concentrations in follicular fluid and serum were determined by ELISA. In granulosa cells, IL1-RII and IL-4 expression was higher in follicles with different persistence times than in the control dominant follicles. IL-1RA expression was higher in persistent follicles of the P15 group (15 days of follicular persistence) than in those of the control group. In theca cells, IL-1RII expression was higher in persistent follicles of the P0 group (expected time of ovulation) than in dominant follicles from the control group (p < .05) and the other persistence groups, whereas IL-4 expression was higher in persistent follicles of groups P0 and P15 than in the dominant follicles of the control group (p < .05). Differences between serum and follicular fluid within each group were detected only in P0 for IL-1β, and in the control, P10 and P15 groups for IL-4 (p < .05). These results complement previous results, evidencing that early development of COD in cows is concurrent with an altered expression of cytokines in different ovarian follicular structures and may contribute to the follicular persistence and ovulation failure found in cattle with follicular cysts.