Nerve growth factor increases activity of ornithine decarboxylase in superior cervical ganglia of young rats.

Nerve growth factor produces a rapid increase in the activity of ornithine decarboxylase (L-ornithine carboxy-lyase, EC 4.1.1.17) in superior cervical ganglia of young rats in vivo and in vitro. Maximum activity occurs 6-7 hr after the addition of nerve growth factor. The nerve growth factor-mediated increase in ornithine decarboxylase activity in vitro can be prevented by the addition of cycloheximide, actinomycin D, or antibody to nerve growth factor. A number of other agents were tested for their ability to increase ornithine decarboxylase were tested for their ability to increase ornithine decarboxylase activity in the ganglia; only nerve growth factor, and, to a slight extent, insulin were able to raise the activity of the enzyme. High concentrations of dibutyryl cyclic AMP (10 mM) were able to mimic the effect of nerve growth factor.