Effects of nerve growth factors from mouse salivary glands and snake venom on the sympathetic ganglia of neonatal and developing mice.

1. Quantitative histological analysis has been made of the effects of nerve growth factor (NGF) from mouse submaxillary gland and from the venom of Vipera russelli on superior cervical ganglia of neonatal mice. 2. The hypertrophic and hyperplastic effects reported by other workers have been confirmed. 3. The hypertrophic effect arises from an increase in the rate at which the sympathetic neurones attain their mature size. The size at maturity is never exceeded. 4. The hyperplastic effect arises from an increase in the rate of production of neurones from less differentiated cells. In the developmental period, the number of neurones can exceed that found at maturity. If injection of NGF is discontinued the excess neurones disappear. 5. If injection of NGF is continued to maturity, the excess number of neurones is maintained.