The effect of nerve growth factor (NGF) upon axoplasmic transport in sympathetic neurons of the mouse

To study a possible agent which controls axoplasmic transport, the rates of transport were examined in postganglionic sympathetic neurons in adult mice which had been treated with nerve growth factor (NGF). Rates were measured by observing the movement along the nerve of a front of radioactive material after a prior intraganglionic injection of L-[4,5-³H]leucine. The faster of two rates observed in female mice increased from a control value of 1.22 ± 0.48 mm/h (N = 15) to an experimental value of 1.83 ± 0.53 mm/h (N = 6; P < 0.005) following the intramuscular injection of a total of 34 μg NGF/g body weight. In contrast, the same treatment caused the slower of the two rates to decrease from a control value of 2.32 ± 0.81 mm/day (N = 12) to an experimental value of 1.63 ± 0.70 mm/day (N = 12; P < 0.05). The rate of slow transport was also examined in male animals. Untreated male mice exhibit a lower rate of slow transport (1.08 ± 0.38 mm/day (N = 9) than do untreated females of equal age (P < 0.001). The result that nerve growth factor increases the rate of the faster phase of transport, and decreases the rate of the slower phase, indicates that this protein exerts a selective effect on transport. To obtain an independent measure of the influence of NGF, the extent of incorporation of L-[4,5-³H]leucine into tissue proteins of excised stellate ganglia was assessed after 1 h in organ culture. Animals treated with NGF showed increased incorporation of tritiated leucine. Incorporation of radioactive leucine was correlated with the rateof transport in both control animals (r = 0.61) animals treaetd with NGF (r = 0.67). Within the framework of normal biological function, NGF may exert a controlling influence on both phases of axoplasmic transport in sympathetic postganglionic neurons.