Dexamethasone Restores the Repressive Effect of Tumor Necrosis Factor-α on Follicular Growth and E(2) Secretion During the In Vitro Culture of Preantral Follicles

As a proinflammatory cytokine, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is central to the female reproductive tract and affects various phases of follicular development and uterine cycles. High levels of TNF-α play a vital role in the pathogenesis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in patients. Clinicians know that dexamethasone can inhibit the induction of androgen by suppressing the adrenal glands which improves the status of the endocrine system in PCOS patients. We hypothesize that dexamethasone has much more functionality and can exert a therapeutic effect by antagonizing TNF-α. We added TNF-α to the follicular culture medium to simulate the high TNF-α levels observed in the endocrine environment of PCOS patients. Dexamethasone was added to the medium to determine if it could counteract the inhibitory effect of TNF-α on follicular growth and 17β-estradiol (E(2)) secretion. Follicular diameter, E(2) concentration, follicle survival, antral-like cavity formation, and ovulation were measured to assess the effects of dexamethasone. In our work, TNF-α inhibited in vitro follicular growth and E(2) secretion in a dose-dependent manner. Based on the results of the present research, we concluded that the addition of dexamethasone partially counteracts the repressive effect of TNF-α on follicle growth and E(2) secretion during in vitro culture of the preantral follicles of mice. Thus, the findings in this paper suggest that dexamethasone may act as a therapy by counteracting the effects of TNF-α in PCOS patients. These results provide a new foundation for exploring the treatment of PCOS patients with dexamethasone.