Retrograde Axonal Transport in Rat Ileal Mesenteric Nerves: Characterization Using Intravenously Administered 125I-Nerve Growth Factor and Effect of Chemical Sympathectomy

Abstract

We have previously demonstrated the reproducible occurrence of dystrophic axonopathy and a defect in the retrograde axonal transport of 125I-nerve growth factor (125I-NGF) involving postganglionic sympathetic axons in the alimentary tract of rats with chronic streptozocin (STZ)-induced diabetes. To avoid complexities inherent in monitoring the accumulation of 125I-NGF in the superior mesenteric ganglion as a measure of retrograde transport in the peripheral axons of the extensive alimentary territory, we have examined retrograde axonal transport of 125I-NGF directly in ileal mesenteric nerves. 125I-NGF was injected systemically, and 2-2.5 h later ileal mesenteric nerve pedicles were ligated in vivo for various intervals. Retrogradely transported 125I-NGF in rat mesenteric nerves was measured distal to a ligature placed on the ileal mesenteric pedicle. Transport-unrelated processes, such as mechanical compression or bleeding at the site of ligation, did not contribute significantly to accumulation measured in this fashion. Accumulation of retrogradely transported 125I-NGF at the ligature began 4 h after ligation and remained linear for approximately 12 h. The amount of retrogradely transported 125I-NGF accumulating distal to the ligature reflected the length of the ileal segment served by the pedicle, which allowed the standardization of accumulation based on length of ileum innervated. The results of several experiments showed that 125I-NGF transport originated largely from nerve terminals within the ileal wall with a smaller component from extramural sites, probably terminals within the walls of blood vessels.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Low serum levels of nerve growth factor in diabetic neuropathy

“…Support to this view comes from the fact that diabetic complications are a rarity when DM is secondary to other diseases like chronic pancreatitis (20). Experimentally, it has been shown that alloxan and streptozotocin-induced DM is associated with neuropathy, and with impairment of NGF transport in nerve fibers (21)(22)(23); interestingly, an ultrastructural study described vacuolization and rupture of granules in the granular tubulary cells of the submaxillary gland that produce NGF in streptozotocin-treated rats (24).…”

Recovery of sensation and somatosensory evoked potentials following toe‐to‐digit transplantation in man

“…(14) 6.24 * 2.59 (14) Operated 9.47 f 0.54 (7) 4.28 +-1.35 (7) 9.94 * 0.69 (14) 3.45 2 2.23t (14) Normal 12.69 2 1.04 (7) 1.82 2 0.71 (7) 13.24 f 0.83 (14) 1.70 2 0.83 (14) Operated 12.94 2 1.12 (7) 1.42 f 0.69 (7) 13.442 0.83 (14) 1.13 * 0.48t (14) Normal 18.07 ? 1.43 (7) 3 04 f 0.90 (7) 18.77 * 1.00 (14) 3.24 f 1.13 (14) 2.30 f 0.96 (7) 19.05 2 1.06 (14) 1.94 f 0.71t (14) From these studies, factors that may affect the outcome are related to age, type and level of injury, length of ischemia, time interval from injury to repair, skeletal shortening, etc6 In toe-to-digit transplantation, emphasis has been placed on the recovery of two-point discrimination for correlation with hand f u n~t i o n .~"~"~*~~ However, functional evaluation of the transplanted toes in previous reports was usually inadequate or in need of more detailed data. Therefore, this report is the first to combine clinical sensory testing with electrophysiological study to evaluate recovery of function in toe-to-digit transplantation in a relatively large number of patients.…”

Neurotrophins and peripheral neuropathy

“…NGF is retrogradely transported in sensory and sympathetic neurons in adult rats (Hendry et a l . 1974;Schmidt & Yip 1985) and about 50 % of the adult rat lumbar sensory neurons can bind NGF with high affinity (Richardson et al 1986). BDNF and NT-3 are also retrogradely transported from an injection site in the sciatic nerve to the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and motoneurons of adult rats (DiStefano al.…”