title: Role of Korean red ginseng total saponins in rat infertility induced by polycystic ovaries.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of Korean red ginseng total saponins (GTS) on ovarian morphology and nerve growth factor (NGF) expression in the ovaries, pituitary, and hippocampus.
  
  
  METHODS
  Polycystic ovary (PCO) rat model induced by estradiol valerate (EV).
  
  
  METHODS
  University research laboratory.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty sexually mature female Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 190-210 g.
  
  
  METHODS
  Female Sprague-Dawley rats (190-210 g) were separated into three groups: EV control (n = 10), EV plus GTS (n = 10), and oil control (n = 10).
  
  
  METHODS
  Ovarian morphology and NGF protein expression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Polycystic ovary was fully developed in rats with a single intramuscular injection of EV. Increased expression of NGF was noted in the ovaries and the brain of rats with PCO. GTS administration attenuated NGF expression in the ovaries but not in the brain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest a role for GTS in the regulation of NGF expression in female rats with PCO.
authors.affiliation: New Zealand College of Oriental Medicine, Hamilton, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Sok Cheon
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Pak
authors.forename: Sung Chul
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Seung-Yeol
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Nah
authors.forename: Jiae
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Joseph A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: Chun Sik
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Bae
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D007723:Korea; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis; D010053:Ovary / Q000378:metabolism; D005894:Panax / Q000737:chemistry*; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012503:Saponins / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D012503:Saponins; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor