In the present study we examined the influence of FSH as well as a number of well-established cytokines on interleukin (IL)-6 by rat granulosa cells in culture. Increasing concentrations of FSH, IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha), and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were incubated for 48 h with undifferentiated granulosa cells obtained from diethylstilbestrol-primed immature rats. The results demonstrate that FSH, IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, and LPS, but not TNF alpha, caused significant concentration-dependent increases in IL-6 release. We also examined the effects of dibutyryl-cAMP, forskolin, and 3-isobutyl-1-methyl-xanthine (IBMX) on IL-6 release by granulosa cells. Each of these agents caused a significant concentration-dependent increase in IL-6 production by granulosa cells in either the absence or presence of FSH. Taken together, these results show that the granulosa cell is not only a likely source of IL-6 but that the release of IL-6 can be regulated. Moreover, evidence suggests that cAMP may serve as a second messenger for the stimulated secretion of IL-6 by undifferentiated granulosa cells.