Aspirin dose dependently inhibits the interleukin-1 beta-stimulated increase in inducible nitric oxide synthase, nitric oxide, and prostaglandin E(2) production in rat ovarian dispersates cultured in vitro.

Objective: Determine if aspirin inhibits the IL-1 beta-stimulated expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), nitric oxide (NO), and prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) in rat ovarian dispersates cultured in vitro.

Design: Prospective, controlled in vitro study.

Setting: Academic research laboratory.

Animals: Ovaries collected from immature rats.

Intervention(s): Ovaries were collected from immature rats and enzymatically dispersed. Ovarian dispersates were placed into plates containing media alone or media supplemented with IL-1 beta (100 U/mL) and varying concentrations of aspirin (0, 1, 3, 5 and 10 mM). Ovarian dispersates were cultured in a humidified environment of 5% CO(2) in air at 37 degrees C for 24 or 48 hours.

Main Outcome Measure(s): Twenty-four- and 48-hour iNOS, nitrite (a stable metabolite of NO), and PGE(2) levels were determined from ovarian dispersates cultured in vitro.

Result(s): Administration of IL-1 beta increased nitrite and PGE(2) levels over that observed in the control group after culture of ovarian dispersates for 24 and 48 hours. Aspirin dose dependently reduced the IL-1 beta-stimulated increase in nitrite production from ovarian dispersates after culture for 24 and 48 hours. Aspirin completely (24 hours) or dose dependently (48 hours) prevented the IL-beta-stimulated increase in PGE(2.) Coadministration of IL-1 beta and aspirin (10 mM) attenuates IL-1 beta-stimulated iNOS expression after culture for 24 and 48 hours.

Conclusion(s): Aspirin significantly inhibits the IL-1 beta-stimulated expression of iNOS, NO, and PGE(2) in ovarian dispersates cultured in vitro.