IMMUNOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF NERVE GROWTH-FACTORS

Antisera [rabbit] were raised against nerve growth factors isolated from mouse salivary gland and 5 venoms representative of the 3 main families of poisonous snakes [Vipera russelli, V. ammodutes ammodutes, Dendroaspis viridis, Ancistrodon rhodostoma and A. piscivorus]. Immunochemical cross-reactivity was assessed from the ability of the antisera to inhibit the biological activities of the heterologous antigens. The high and low molecular weight forms of the salivary gland factors were immunologically identical but distinct from the snake venom factors. The snake venom factors were immunologically closely related to each other but not identical.