Biochemical effects of nerve growth factor and its antibody on the vas defferens and the adrenal medulla.
The administration of nerve growth factor (NGF) to newborn and 30-day-old rats elicits a selective increase in tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and dopamine B-hydroxylase (DBH) activities both in the vas deferens and the adrenal medulla. In contrast, the administration of monospecific anti NGF-antibodies leads to no significant changes in TH and DBH activities in the vas deferens and the adrenal medulla. This discrepancy might indicate that NSF is not an absolute prerequisite for the development and maintenance of function of these organs, although they do not respond by a selective increase in TH and DBH activities.
Goedert
M
M
Dept. of Pharmacology, Biocenter of the University, 4056 Basel Switzerland.
Otten
U
U
Thoenen
H
H