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The Distribution of Nerve Growth Factor in the Male Sex Organs of Mammals
Author(s) -
Harper G. P.,
Thoenen H.
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
journal of neurochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.75
H-Index - 229
eISSN - 1471-4159
pISSN - 0022-3042
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-4159.1980.tb09663.x
Subject(s) - radioimmunoassay , hamster , guinea pig , endocrinology , medicine , nerve growth factor , biology , prostate , receptor , cancer
The Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) content of male sex organs of the mouse, rat, guinea pig, hamster, rabbit, human, and bull has been investigated using both a biological assay and a two‐site radioimmunoassay. The prostate glands of the rabbit and bull have been found to contain moderate levels of NGF, these being lower than the concentrations found in the guinea pig prostate and mouse submaxillary glands. The sex organs investigated of the mouse, rat, hamster, and human contained no detectable NGF activity. Genital organs, other than the prostate glands, of the guinea pig and rabbit were also devoid of NGF. The NGFs from the rabbit and bull are immunologically related to those found in the submaxillary glands of the mouse and the prostate glands of the guinea pig, but immunodiffusion and radioimmunoassay experiments show that there are also clear differences between the NGFs. The use of a two‐site radioimmunoassay, based on purified antibodies against mouse submaxillary gland NGF, for the determination of NGF levels in species other than the mouse, is described. It is essential during such applications to compensate for the fact that the NGFs from different species are sufficiently distinct that only part of the antibody population (raised against mouse NGF) is capable of recognizing NGF from species other than the mouse. The results of radioimmunoassay and biological assay determinations are in reasonable agreement, if corrections for this feature are made.