Gonadotropin regulation of granulosa cell (GC) differentiation can be modulated by non-steroidal factors, including cytokines. Interleukin-6 (IL-6), a broad spectrum cytokine, has been previously demonstrated to be produced by GCs and to directly influence follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) differentiated functions of ovarian GCs. In the present study, primary cultures of GCs were prepared from prepubertal sow ovaries. No significant amount of biological active IL-6 was detected in these cultures using the B9 cell growth bioassay. Although our findings suggest that GCs are not source of IL-6 in the porcine ovary, this cytokine may be released by leukocytes present in the ovary and modulate ovarian functions by acting on GCs. Here, adding recombinant human (rh)IL-6 to GC cultures inhibited differentiated functions induced by FSH such as aromatase activity, LH receptor (LHr) expression measured by specific 125I-hCG binding and progesterone (P) production. On the opposite, rhIL-6 did not modulate stimulatory human chorionic hormone (hCG) effects on P release by GCs and did not prevent hCG binding to LHr. These preliminary results clearly showed that IL-6 acted differently on FSH and hCG induced functions although these gonadotropins act primarily through the same transduction pathway involving generation of cyclic AMP. We suggest that IL-6 might act more likely by reducing FSH binding capacity than by modulating transduction pathways. Inhibitory IL-6 effects on FSH-induced functions were not neutralized by adding to culture media a monoclonal antibody against the human IL-6 signal transducer gp130, previously reported to inhibit IL-6 mediated effects in human cell lines.