NGF and osteoarthritis: Interestingly, previous reports showed that the neutralization of NGF in a model of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis increases tissue inflammation in female rats.35 In addition, treatment of female rabbits subjected to surgically induced osteoarthritis with an anti-NGF antibody resulted in an increased diameter of the affected joints, while pain-like behaviors decreased.34 This suggests that, at least in female mice and rabbits, the role of NGF in pain-like sensitization and inflammation may go in opposing directions.