Reduction of ethylnitrosourea-induced neoplastic proliferation in rat trigeminal nerves by nerve growth factor.

Ethylnitrosourea administered to pregnant rats on the 21st day of gestation at a dose of 50 mg/kg resulted in early neoplastic proliferation or neurinomas of trigeminal nerves in 90% of the offspring at 90 days of age. Treatment with nerve growth factor either postnatally following ethylnitrosourea administration or transplacentally prior to ethylnitrosourea treatment appeared to result in a reduction of neurinomas at 90 days of age.