Neurite-promoting effects of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate on chick embryo neurons.

The addition of the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) to defined growth medium enhanced the survival of ciliary neurons in dissociated cultures and promoted the rapid development of neurites from sympathetic and parasympathetic ganglion explants. Explants of the central nervous system including the cerebral cortex and spinal cord of chick embryos were, however, unresponsive to either 10 or 100 ng/ml of TPA.