Objective: To investigate the influence of ethinyl estradiol and cyproterone acetate in oral contraceptives on leukocyte migration through endothelial cell monolayers. Design: Experimental in vitro prospective study. Setting: An academic research laboratory. Intervention(s): Endothelial cells were cultured on microporous membranes to produce monolayers. Polymorphonuclear leukocytes were used in a previously described migration assay (n = 7). The amount of untreated polymorphonuclear leukocytes that migrated through untreated endothelial cell monolayers was used as a control and set at 100%. In addition, a leukocyte adhesion assay was used. Main Outcome Measure(s): Leukocyte adhesion to and transmigration through endothelial cell monolayers. Result(s): Ethinyl estradiol and cyproterone acetate inhibited the migration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes through endothelial cell monolayers significantly (67% ± 6.4%) when both cell types were treated to simulate in vivo conditions. The adhesion assay produced similar results. Conclusion(s): Ethinyl estradiol and cyproterone acetate were identified as potent inhibitors of leukocyte migration through endothelial cell monolayers.
