REVERSIBLE DISSOCIATION OF A BOVINE CARDIAC FACTOR THAT SUPPORTS SURVIVAL OF AVIAN CILIARY GANGLIONIC NEURONS

The relationship between a high and a low MW form of a bovine cardiac factor that supports the survival of avian ciliary ganglionic neurons was studied in culture. Reversible dissociation of the high MW form into identical or similarly sized subunits of apparent MW in the range 15,000-30,000 was demonstrated. Other inactive high MW components of cardiac extract were found to interact synergistically with both active forms of the factor.