Table 2

Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) protein concentrations and NGF mRNA expression (mean ± SEM) in the ovaries, the adrenal glands and the dorsal part of the spinal cord in the four experimental groups the healthy control group, the healthy group receiving electro-acupuncture (EA), the polycystic ovary (PCO) control group, and the PCO group receiving EA.


NGF concentrations (pg/g)



Healthy control
Healthy EA
PCO control
PCO EA

Ovary
294.85 ± 17.00
265.79 ± 20.99
479.77 ± 26.86a
385.34 ± 12.26b
Adrenal gland
102.42 ± 26.14
119.97 ± 51.81
98.82 ± 12.46
94.42 ± 14.32
Spinal cord
867.36 ± 65.52
1600.59 ± 360.03
1351.26 ± 220.82
1081.94 ± 193.72


NGF mRNA expression (O.D. 450/690)

Ovary
1.02 ± 0.19
1.10 ± 0.2
0.35 ± 0.06c
0.45 ± 0.15
Adrenal gland
0.41 ± 0.06
0.51 ± 0.07
0.32 ± 0.06
0.37 ± 0.05
Spinal cord
0.71 ± 0.09
1.15 ± 0.34
0.57 ± 0.08
1.12 ± 0.29

a p < 0.001 when the PCO control group were compared with the healthy control group and healthy group receiving EA. b p < 0.05 when the PCO group receiving EA were compared with the PCO control group. c p < 0.001 when the PCO control group were compared with the healthy control group and the healthy group receiving EA.

Stener-Victorin et al. Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology 2003 1:33   doi:10.1186/1477-7827-1-33