Neurite outgrowth of neurons of rat dorsal root ganglia induced by new neurotrophic substances with guanidine group.

In order to search for compounds mimicking the neurotrophic activities, a series of substances possessing the guanidine group of isaxonine (2-isopropylamino-pyrimidine), were synthesized and tested for their ability to induce neurite outgrowth in cultures of explants of rat dorsal root ganglia. It is reported that several of these compounds, at concentrations ranging from 10(-5) to 10(-7) M, showed important effects on neurite outgrowth in vitro, similar to that obtained with the nerve growth factor NGF. These effects were found to be additive to that of NGF.