THE ROLE OF CYTOKINES IN REPRODUCTION

The role of cytokines and growth factor on reproduction is a rapidly growing new area of investigation. Immune cells and related cytokines have been shown to affect the neuroendocrine events of reproduction, ovarian function, placenta and the developing embryo.
Further more, it is now becomming apparent that these relationships are reciprocal in that the different cellular components of the neuroendocrine and reproductive systems and the developing embryo can modulate the production of cytokine by immune system and can also produce certain cytokines.