NERVE GROWTH-FACTOR INFLUENCES SODIUM-ION EXTRUSION FROM CHICK EMBRYONIC DORSAL ROOT GANGLIONIC NEURONS

Cell dissociates from embryonic chick spinal ganglia, incubated for several hours with sodium-22, accumulated six times more radioactivity in the absence than in the presence of nerve growth factor. Cells incubated without nerve growth factor and sodium-22 for six hours, and then presented with sodium-22 also accumulated radioactivity more readily. Delayed presentation of nerve growth factor to sodium-22 preloaded cells caused a rapid extrusion of radioactivity. Intact spinal and sympathetic ganglia from chick embryo showed similar qualitative behaviors. Thus, a critical action of nerve growth factor may be to enhance a sodium-extrusion mechanism in its target neurons. © 1979.