Cessation of cell division and DNA synthesis are not required for beta NGF-induced neurite outgrowth from PC12 cells. However, beta NGF-mediated increases in RNA and protein levels closely correlate with the size and number of neurites per cell suggesting that these changes influence some quantitative aspects of neurite outgrowth. RNA levels are increased due to an increase in transcriptional rates. It is likely that the increase in transcription is triggered by the beta NGF-mediated increase in the amounts of the nucleoside triphosphates which serve as substrates for transcription.