Interchangeability of nerve growth factor and high potassium in the long-term survival of chick sympathetic neurons in serum-free culture medium.

The results of the present experiments demonstrate that embryonic sympathetic neurons initially selected in culture by nerve growth factor could be subsequently supported by raising potassium concentration of the medium to 35 mM. Alternatively, neurons initially selected by 35 mM potassium could be supported in a normal culture medium but supplemented with nerve growth factor. It is concluded that nerve growth factor and high concentrations of potassium act on the same subpopulation of chick embryonic sympathetic neurons to promote their long-term survival in a serum-free culture medium.