Nerve growth factor in three neurologically deficient mouse mutants

The activity of nerve growth factor (NGF) in the salivary glands and in the sciatic nerve was compared between normal mice and mice affected by either of three neurological mutations by the use of a biological assay. No evidence was obtained for defects in amount or activity of NGF associated with the sprawling or splotch mutations. A reduction in the NGF content was found in salivary glands and sciatic nerve in homozygous dystonia musculorum mice. It is pointed out that the low amounts of NGF in dtJ/dtJ mice is likely to be a consequence of the general disturbances in development seen in this mutant rather than the specific cause for the neurological disorder.