Increased Nerve-Growth-Stimulating Activity in Disseminated Neurofibromatosis

Abstract

NERVE-GROWTH factors have been isolated from a variety of substances such as sarcoma, snake venoms and the spinal-axial region of the chick embryo. The best source has been the submandibular salivary gland of the mouse.1 The administration of this factor stimulates the enlargement of spinal and sympathetic ganglions in vivo2 and the in vitro outgrowth of neurites from explanted embryonic ganglions of the chick, the mouse and the human being.2 The physiologic role of the factor and its site of synthesis are unknown. The most compelling evidence that it does serve a physiologic function is the observation that injection of . . .