An analysis of peripheral neuronal survival factors present in muscle

Extracts of bovine heart, rat heart, and rat skeletal muscle were chromatographically separated and the fractions tested for their ability to maintain the survival of dissociated sympathetic, parasympathetic, and sensory neurones. Bovine heart contained at least five, rat heart at least six, and rat skeletal muscle at least four active components differing in their physicochemical properties and their target selectivity. Bovine and rat heart appeared to contain at least two components in common. The differences in active components found in the three tissues are consistent with a complex and perhaps tissue-specific system regulating neuronal survival.