A Comparative Study of Nerve Growth Factor Level in the Follicular Fluid of Polycystic and Non-Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Women Undergoing ICSI: a Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Background : Nerve growth factor is a member of a group of proteins called Neurotrophins (NTs), which
are necessary for growth and differentiation of neurons in both central and peripheral nervous systems. In
addition to this essential role, NGF has been suggested to play a possible role in ovarian functions. Thus, we
proposed this study to evaluate the nerve growth factor level in the follicular fluid of women with polycystic
ovary syndrome undergoing Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in comparison with the control group
(non-polycystic women).
Results : Follicular fluid nerve growth factor levels of non PCOS women were significantly higher than
these of PCOS group (245.399 ± 63.41pg/ml vs. 149.592 ± 64.86 pg/ml), p-value =0.0001*. Also, it was
significantly correlated negatively with oocytes number (Correlation Coefficient r= -0.431, P-value = 0.01)
and positively with FSH (r=0.370, p value = 0.029).
Conclusion: Nerve growth factor level in the follicular fluid of polycystic ovary syndrome women is lower
than it in non-PCOS ones. Additionally, it correlates directly with cycle day two FSH and inversely with
oocytes number.