Nerve growth factor accelerates regeneration of cultured adult sympathetic ganglion cells

To evaluate the regenerative capacity of adult nerve cells, a tissue culture study was made on the superior cervical ganglion (SCG) from adult mice. Explants of SCG from mice of various ages were cultured in medium after the method of Wood for 12 days in the presence of 10 ng/ml or 100 ng/ml nerve growth factor (NGF). The number of explants with regeneration, and the maximum length of processes from the explants, were reduced in the explants of 24 month old mice. The number of processes decreased with age. Application of 100 ng/ml NGF increased the regenerative capacity of 24 month old mice explants.