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 . . .