Possible involvement of neurite outgrowth factor (NOF) receptor in axonal outgrowth from developing chick retina

We report that an 82-kDa membrane protein from chicken gizzard muscles is a neurite outgrowth factor (NOF)-receptor interacting with a domain for neurite-promoting activity of NOF. We found that an 82-kDa membrane protein in the developing chicken retina exhibited the same properties as those of gizzard muscles. The neuritic response of the retinal neurons to NOF increased in 6- and 8-day embryos, reaching a maximum level on the 8th-day and then rapidly decreased with aging. In parallel with this, the amount of NOF receptor in the retinas was maximal in 8- and 11-day embryos and thereafter decreased with aging. The results suggest that the failure in the neuritic response of the retinal neurons to NOF with aging is due to the decrease in NOF receptor.