title: Nerve growth factor (NGF) levels in follicular fluid of infertile patients undergoing to in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine the levels of NGF in follicular fluid and serum samples, and to correlate them with some characteristics of the patients (age) and of the IVF protocol (E2 levels, number of collected oocytes, used FSHr IU) to investigate its rule in the folliculogenesis.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study examined a sample of 78 women undergoing to FIVET/ICSI cycles since October 2011 to March 2013. NGF levels were determinated in follicular fluid (FF) and serum sample using enzyme immunoassay ELISA kit for NGF.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The NGF level was significantly higher in FF (213.76 pg/ml) than in basal serum (46.47 pg/ml (p < 0.001) and in serum sample of the pick-up day (60.75 pg/ml (p < 0.001). In FF, the levels of NGF were positively correlated to age of women (corr.coeff. r = 0.44) and units of FSHr used during stimulation protocol (corr.coeff r = 0.34).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results demonstrate that the FF levels are higher than the blood; so there is a local production of NGF in the ovarian follicle, important for the follicle's growth and oocyte quality. We could also say that the increase of NGF levels is correlated to a lower ovary response, that is obviously less in the older women.
authors: Department of Surgery, Division of Gynecology/Obstetrics, Center of Physiopathology of Human Reproduction, University of Catania , Catania , Italy and.
authors: Marco Antonio
authors: MA
authors: Palumbo
authors: Eleonora
authors: E
authors: Giuffrida
authors: Ferdinando Antonio
authors: FA
authors: Gulino
authors: Emanuela
authors: E
authors: Leonardi
authors: Giuseppina
authors: G
authors: Cantarella
authors: Renato
authors: R
authors: Bernardini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005300:Fertility Agents, Female / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D043373:Follicle Stimulating Hormone, Human / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D015571:Follicular Fluid / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D054315:Oocyte Retrieval; D009866:Oogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D010062:Ovulation Induction; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic
chemical_list: D005300:Fertility Agents, Female; D043373:Follicle Stimulating Hormone, Human; C502240:NGF protein, human; D004958:Estradiol; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor