Molecular forms of nerve growth factor in mouse submaxillary glands.

By use of immunoblot analysis, we demonstrate the presence of a nerve growth factor with a relative molecular mass (Mr) of 53,000 in submaxillary glands of adult male and female mice in addition to the 13,000 form previously discovered in this tissue. Both the Mr 53,000 and 13,000 forms of nerve growth factor are present at equal concentrations in salivary glands of male mice while the Mr 53,000 form is present at a greater concentration than the Mr 13,000 form in the glands of female mice. Testosterone pretreatment, however, specifically augments the Mr 13,000 form of nerve growth factor in the salivary glands of female mice. The existence of nerve growth factor with molecular weight of 53,000, which is higher than the molecular size predicted for the two precursor forms of nerve growth factor, suggest the possibility that one of the nerve growth factor precursors or a product derived from it may undergo post-translational modification in submaxillary glands of mice.