Neurite growth promoting factors of embryonic chick--ontogeny, regional distribution, and characteristics.

A single neuronal cell biological assay for NGF has been used to quantitate factors in soluble extract of chick embryo that promote neurite outgrowth. The neurite growth promoting activity is detected as early as day 1.5 of embryonic life. Specific activity increases to maximum over the first four days and then decreases from day 5 to 6 during a growth spurt of the embryo. The tissue distribution of neurite growth promoting activity at eight embryonic days shows higher specific activity in peripheral structures that are richly innervated. Extract from all embryonic stages and from all tissues studied induces neurite outgrowth that is inhibited only partially by antibody to mouse NGF. Furthermore, the kinetics of neurite outgrowth and the neuronal populations responsive to extract differ from that of NGF. These observations indicate heterogeneity of the neurite growth promoting factors in soluble extracts of embryonic chick and demonstrate the presence of these factors before the responsive neurons leave the cell cycle and begin their differentiation processes.