Response of the regenerating telencephalon of Lacerta viridis to nerve growth factor.

To identify the nature of the dividing cells during the regenerative process of the telencephalon, the authors administered nerve growth factor (NGF) to Lacerta viridis with a wedge of telencephalon removed. Some known centers of cell proliferation were unresponsive to the treatment, whereas the ventral end of the telencephalic ventricle underwent an increase of up to 200% in proliferation rate. On the basis of this observation and data in the literature, the authors propose that the cell proliferation beginning in the medial area during the regeneration of the telencephalic ventricle is due to catecholaminergic neuroblasts still present in the adult.