Differential regulation of NPY mRNA expression in embryonic sympathetic and chromaffin cultures by NGF

RT-PCR analysis of NPY mRNA expression in chick embryonic sympathoadrenal cells in culture showed that NGF increases sympathetic but not adrenal NPY mRNA content. These results show that the previously reported differential effect at the protein level can also be detected at the mRNA level, suggesting a pre-translational point of regulation. The differential NGF effect in such closely related phenotypes is particularly relevant to studies of plasticity and differentiation.