Abstract.
The abilities of recombinant human interleukin 1β and tumour necrosis factor α to induce release of GnRH and interleukin 6 from primary culture of rat hypothalamic cells were examined. The effect of estradiol on the release of interleukin 6 by these cells was also tested. Both interleukin 1β and tumour necrosis factor α caused significant stimulation of GnRH secretion from the hypothalamic cells within 5 min. The hypothalamic cells secreted interleukin 6 spontaneously, and their secretion over 24 h was stimulated dose-dependently by interleukin 1β, tumour necrosis factor α and estradiol. These results suggest that interleukin 1β and tumour necrosis factor α stimulate the secretions of GnRH and interleukin 6 in the hypothalamus, and that these cytokines may be involved in the mechanism of GnRH secretion in the hypothalamus.