Veratrine supports the in vitro survival of embryonic chick sympathetic neurons.

Veratrine (VT), an alkaloid known to act on the sodium channels and cause depolarization of a cell membrane, was found to support the survival of cultured sympathetic neurons. At 30 microM it was as effective as nerve growth factor (NGF), as determined by the cell counts and [3H]norepinephrine ([3H]NE) uptake. Protein kinase C (PKC) activity of the surviving neurons was measured because of our previous finding that depolarizing concentrations of K+ support the survival and cause several fold increase in the enzyme activity. An acute treatment of NGF-supported sympathetic neurons by VT did not alter PKC activity.