Synthesis and secretion of a nerve growth-stimulating factor by neonatal mouse astrocyte cells in vitro

Neonatal mouse astroglial cells cultured in a serum-free medium synthesize and secrete a trophic growth factor which resembles nerve growth factor (NGF). The NGF-like factor reacts with antiserum to beta subunit of NGF (beta-NGF) and, after labeling with [35S] cystine, migrates similarly to purified mouse beta-NGF in SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Sephadex G-100 gel filtration systems. The astrocyte cell NGF-like factor displays beta-NGF-like neurite growth-promoting activity for the clonal rat pheochromocytoma (PC-12) cell line and this bioactivity is blocked by beta-NGF antiserum. These results indicate that NGF-like factor synthesized and secreted by astroglial cells, is similar, if not identical, to beta-NGF from the mouse submandibular gland and further support a potential role for NGF in the central nervous system.