In vitro mRNA synthesis by Sendai virus is almost entirely dependent on the addition of cellular proteins (positive host factors), one of which could be tubulin. In this study, we investigated the distribution of host factors in various rat organs. Extracts from the brain, thymus, heart, lung, testis, ovary, and uterus all supported in vitro Sendai virus transcription, among which the highest activity was obtained with the brain extract. On the other hand, little or no activity was detected in the liver, spleen, and kidney extracts. An inverse correlation between the apparent host factor activity to stimulate mRNA synthesis and RNase activity that hydrolyzes Sendai virus mRNAs was found, except in the liver extract. However, when a transcription initiation complex was isolated and subjected to RNA chain elongation reaction, all of the extracts including those from liver, spleen and kidney, were active. Immunoblotting showed that tubulin molecules were integrated in these initiation complexes, supporting the notion that tubulin is involved in the initiation complex formation. We also identified a transcription inhibitory activity without any detectable RNase activity in the liver extract. This negative host factor seemed to act on RNA chain elongation. It is likely that Sendai virus transcription is regulated by both positive and negative regulatory factors.