Nerve growth factors in chick tissues.

Bioassays of factors promoting nerve growth in embryonic ganglia are described. Chick embryo extract evokes fiber outgrowth in both sympathetic and ciliary ganglia explanted into a collagen gel. The response is not suppressed by antibodies directed against mouse nerve growth factor (NGF). Chick embryo extract also supported survival of neurons in both intact and dissociated ganglia. In addition to these non-NGF activities, preliminary evidence is presented for the release of a NGF-like factor from cultured iris of the adult chick.