Summary
The sciatic nerves of 2–3 month-old mice, rats and rabbits were crushed and at the same time horse-radish peroxidase (HRP) was applied around the crushed region at mid-thigh level. At varying time intervals thereafter, HRP was seen in neurons of the corresponding spinal ganglia and levels of the spinal cord. The rate of ascent of HRP appeared to be similar in the different animals and to be independent of the length of the nerve. The accumulation of HRP was more conspicuous in small than large neurons in the ganglia at early stages after the nerve crush.
The arrival of HRP in the perikarya preceded the onset of early morphological changes in the neurons (chromatolysis). The rate of ascent of the signal for chromatolysis appeared to be within the same range as that of the retrograde transport of HRP in the crushed axons. The possibility therefore exists that these two phenomena are in some way interrelated.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bodian, D. andHowe, H. A. (1941) The rate of progression of polio myelitis virus in nerves.Bulletin of the John Hopkins Hospital 69, 79–85.
Cervós-Navarro, J. (1962) Elektronenmikroskopische Befunde an Spinal-gangliezellen der Ratte nach Ischiadikotomie, IV International Congress of Neuropathology, vol. II, pp. 99–104. Stuttgart: G. Thieme Verlag.
Cox, W. H. (1898) Beiträge zur pathologischen Histologie und Physiologie der Gangliezellen.Internationale Monatsschrift für Anatomie und Physiologie 15, 241–58.
Cragg, B. G. (1970) What is the signal for chromatolysis ?Brain Research 23, 1–21.
Graham, R. C. andKarnovsky, M. J. (1966) The early stages of absorption of injected horseradish peroxidase in the proximal tubules of mouse kidney: Ultrastructural correlates by a new technique.Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry 14, 291–302.
Humbertson, A. (1963) A chronological study of the degenerative phenomena of dorsal root ganglion cells following section of sciatic nerve.Anatomical Record 145, 244.
Kristensson, K. andOlsson, Y. (1973) Diffusion pathways and retrograde axonal transport of protein tracers in peripheral nerves.Progress in Neurobiology 1, 85–109.
Kristensson, K. andOlsson, Y. (1974) Retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase in transected axonsI, Time relationships between transport and induction of chromatolysis.Brain Research 79, 101–9.
Kristensson, K., Olsson, Y. andSjöstrand, J. (1971) Axonal uptake and retrograde transport of exogenous proteins in the hypoglossal nerve.Brain Research 32, 399–406.
Lieberman, A. R. (1971) The axon reaction: a review of the principal features of perikaryal response to axon injury.International Review of Neurobiology 14, 49–124.
Lieberman, A. R. (1974) Some factors affecting retrograde neuronal responses to axonal lesions. InEssays on the Nervous System (edited byBellairs, R. andGray, E. G.) pp. 71–105. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
Lubińska, L. andNiemierko, S. (1971) Velocity and intensity of bidirectional migration of AChE in transected nerves.Brain Research 27, 329–42.
Lugaro, E. (1904) On the pathology of the cells of the sensory ganglia.Review of Neurology and Psychiatry 2, 228–32.
Nittono, K. (1923) On bilateral effects from the unilateral section of branches of the nervus trigeminus in the albino rat.Journal of Comparative Neurology 35, 133–61.
Ochs, S. (1972) Fast transport of materials in mammalian nerve fibres.Science 176, 252–60.
Ochs, S. andJersild, R. A. (1974) Fast axoplasmic transport in nonmyelinated mammalian nerve fibres shown by electron microscopic radioautography.Journal of Neurobiology 5, 373–7.
Ranson, S. W. (1909) Alterations in the spinal ganglion cells following neurotomy.Journal of Comparative Neurology 19, 125–53.
Torvik, A. andHeding, A. (1969) Effect of Actinomycin D on retrograde cell reaction.Acta neuropathologica (Berlin) 14, 62–71.
Watson, W. E. (1968) Observations on the nucleolar and total cell body nucleic acid of injured nerve cells.Journal of Physiology (London) 196, 655–76.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kristensson, K., Olsson, Y. Retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase in transected axons. II. Relations between rate of transfer from the site of injury to the perikaryon and onset of chromatolysis. J Neurocytol 4, 653–661 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01181628
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01181628