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Axonal transport of substance P in the vagus and sciatic nerves of the guinea pig.

The axonal transport and apparent subcellular distribution of substance P-like immunoreactive material (SPLI) were examined in nerves of guinea pigs by means of a sensitive radioimmunoassay and by immunohistofluorescence. Crushes or ligations were made at various levels above and below the nodose ganglion of the vagus, on the sciatic nerve, and on the central process of the S1 spinal ganglion. From the relative rates of accumulation of SPLI in the adjacent segments, it was concluded that the bulk of the substance P produced in the sensory ganglion cells was being exported toward the terminal regions of their peripheral branches. The average velocity of transport of SPLI in the peripheral direction was calculated to be 1 mm/h in the sciatic nerve and 1.25 mm/h in the vagus. The removal of SPLI from regions of nerve distal to a ligature indicated that only 26% of the peptide in vagus nerve and 17% of the peptide in sciatic nerve was available for rapid transport. It was therefore estimated that the mean velocity of the moving fraction was 5-6 mm/h. Stop-flow experiments with local cooling and rewarming in vivo suggested that some SPLI may have been transported as rapidly as 10 mm/h. The behavior of SPLI during ultracentrifugation of nerve and ganglion extracts indicated that this peptide was normally present both in a soluble form and in association with particles but was transported primarily in the latter form.

Animals↗

Neuropeptide Y and catecholamine synthesizing enzymes and their mRNAs in rat sympathetic neurons and adrenal glands: studies on expression, synthesis and axonal transport after pharmacological and experimental manipulations using hybridization techniques and radioimmunoassay.

The effects of reserpine treatment (10 mg/kg, i.p.) on the content of neuropeptide Y-like immunoreactivity and catecholamines were compared with the levels of mRNA coding for neuropeptide Y, tyrosine hydroxylase and phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase in rat sympathetic neurons and adrenal gland. A reversible depletion of neuropeptide Y-like immunoreactivity was observed in the right atrium of the heart, kidney and masseter muscle, while the immunoreactive neuropeptide Y content in the stellate and lumbar sympathetic ganglia and its axonal transport in the sciatic nerve increased following reserpine. The increase in the stellate ganglion was maximal at 48 h and absent 9 days after reserpine treatment. The expression of neuropeptide Y mRNA and tyrosine hydroxylase mRNA in both the stellate and the superior cervical ganglion increased earlier than the neuropeptide Y content, with a clear cut two-fold elevation at 24 h after reserpine. The increase in both mRNAs in the superior cervical ganglion and the depletion of neuropeptide Y, but not of noradrenaline, in terminal areas was prevented after pretreatment both with a nicotinic receptor antagonist (chlorisondamine) and with surgical preganglionic denervation. A marked (75-90%) depletion of neuropeptide Y-like immunoreactivity and adrenaline in the adrenal gland, concomitant with 3-4-fold increases in neuropeptide Y mRNA and tyrosine hydroxylase mRNA expression, was present at 24 h after reserpine treatment. Also in the adrenal gland, there was a reversal of the reserpine-induced increase in neuropeptide Y mRNA and tyrosine hydroxylase mRNA and depletion of neuropeptide Y and adrenaline following splanchnic denervation. Pharmacological, ganglionic blockade prevented the depletion of neuropeptide Y and the increased expression of neuropeptide Y mRNA, but not fully, the tyrosine hydroxylase mRNA elevation. In addition, a marked decrease in phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase mRNA levels was noted after reserpine. This decrease was reversed by denervation and by ganglionic blockade. Denervation alone led to a small but significant decrease in all mRNAs examined both in the superior cervical ganglion and the adrenal medulla. The present data suggest that the depletion of neuropeptide Y-like immunoreactivity in sympathetic nerves and in the adrenal gland after reserpine is associated with a compensatory increase in neuropeptide Y synthesis and axonal transport, most likely due to increased nicotinic receptor stimulation. Whereas the reserpine depletion of neuropeptide Y in both sympathetic nerves and adrenal gland is related to neuronal activation, adrenal but not nerve terminal depletion of catecholamines can be prevented by the ganglionic blocker chlorisondamine.4+e difference in effect of pharmacological ganglionic

Adrenal Glands↗

Video microscopy of fast axonal transport in extruded axoplasm: a new model for study of molecular mechanisms.

The development of AVEC-DIC microscopy and the application of this method to the study of fast axonal transport in isolated axoplasm extruded from the giant axon of the squid Loligo pealei provides a new paradigm for analyzing the intracellular transport of membranous organelles. The size of the axon, the number of transported particles, and the absence of permeability barriers like the plasma membrane in this preparation permit many experiments that are difficult or impossible to perform using other model systems. The use and features of this preparation are described in detail and a number of properties are evaluated for the first time. The process of extrusion is characterized. Particle movement is evaluated both in the interior of extruded axoplasm and along individual fibrils that extend from the periphery of perfused axoplasm. The role of divalent cations, particularly Ca2+, and the effects of elevated Ca2+ on axoplasmic organization and transport are analyzed. A series of pharmacological agents and polypeptides that alter cytoskeletal organization are used to examine the role of microfilaments and microtubules in fast transport. Finally, the effects of depleting ATP and of adding ATP analogues are discussed. The extruded axoplasm preparation is shown to be an invaluable model system for biochemical and pharmacological analyses of the molecular mechanisms of intracellular transport.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Axonal transport of clathrin-associated proteins.

Clathrin, the main constituent of coated vesicles, is anterogradely transported exclusively in the slow component b (SCb) of axonal transport. However, it has not been shown whether the 30-36-kDa clathrin-associated proteins (CAPs), which may regulate assembly of clathrin into coated vesicles, are transported along with clathrin in SCb. Clarification of this point has implications for the functional state of anterogradely transported clathrin. To investigate CAPs transport, retinal ganglion cells of the guinea pig were labeled with 35S-methionine and the optic nerves harvested at 6 h, 4 days, and 30 days to collect radiolabeled proteins from each major rate component of axonal fast component (FC), slow component a (SCa), and SCb. The radiolabeled rate component proteins were analyzed by using two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and fluorography. The results showed that CAPs, like clathrin, were transported exclusively with the proteins of SCb. In addition, a comparison of radiolabeled CAPs isolated from axons with whole-brain CAPs failed to demonstrate an appreciable difference in molecular weight or isoelectric point between the two, suggesting that CAPs did not undergo a major post translational modification upon passage into the synaptic terminal. It appears that the distinctive microenvironment within the synaptic terminal is likely to contribute to the ability of clathrin and CAPs to interact with membranes.

Animals↗

[Ultrastructural organization of the geniculo-cortical neurons demonstrated by retrograde axonal transport of horseradish peroxidase].

The ultrastructural organization of geniculo-cortical relay neurons projecting to the primary auditory cortex (field 22) was studied in the cat by the method of retrograde axonal transport of horseradish peroxidase. The labeled neurons appear to be a medium-sized cells containing a large amount of profiles of vacuolar systems as well as organelles involved in catabolic processes. These cells differ from small unmarked neurons in having a narrow band scanty cytoplasm. Only a few axo-somatic synapses are found on the labeled neurons, the majority of afferent impulsation is perceived by their dendrites. The function of relay neurons is discussed.

Animals↗

Target tissue production and axonal transport of neurotrophin-3 are reduced in streptozotocin-diabetic rats.

Neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) acts as a target-derived neurotrophic factor for large calibre sensory neurones and plays a role in the maintenance of the adult phenotype of proprioceptive and mechanoreceptive fibres. Large fibre sensory neuropathy is common in diabetes mellitus and the aim of this study was to determine whether endogenous NT-3-dependent neurotrophic support was sub-optimal in the streptozotocin-diabetic rat. NT-3 gene expression was analysed by Northern blotting and ELISA in hindlimb skeletal muscle and found to be decreased by up to 70% (p < 0.05) in rats with 4-6 weeks of diabetes compared to aged-matched controls. Treatment of other diabetic rats with insulin prevented development of deficits of both NT-3 protein and of its mRNA. The deficits in target tissue production of NT-3 were coincident with significant decreases in its anterograde and retrograde axonal transport in sciatic nerve at 6 weeks of diabetes. The mRNA expression in lumbar dorsal root ganglia of the specific receptor for NT-3, trkC, was also down-regulated at 12 weeks of diabetes by 50% (p < 0.05). The observed decreases in NT-3 target tissue production and related axonal transport suggest that large calibre sensory neurones expressing trkC may be receiving sub-optimal neurotrophic support in experimental diabetes.

Animals↗

Tumour necrosis factor causes an increase in axonal transport of protein and demyelination in the mouse optic nerve.

An increase in fast axonal transport of protein by the optic nerve was found in mice following a single combined injection of human recombinant tumour necrosis factor alpha (rTNF) and [3H]proline into the vitreous chamber. Demyelination was observed in optic nerve fibres arising from the eyes of mice which received a single rTNF injection. No such changes were detected when heat-inactivated rTNF was injected with the label. The effects of intravitreal injection of rTNF on the pathophysiology of mouse optic nerve resembled those found in mice infected with Semliki Forest virus (SFV), an animal model of multiple sclerosis. We suggest that TNF could mediate at least some of the pathophysiological changes found in SFV-infected mice and may provide a clue concerning the disease mechanism in multiple sclerosis.

Animals↗

Role of actin filaments in the axonal transport of microtubules.

Microtubules originate at the centrosome of the neuron and are then released for transport down the axon, in which they can move both anterogradely and retrogradely during axonal growth. It has been hypothesized that these movements occur by force generation against the actin cytoskeleton. To test this, we analyzed the movement, distribution, and orientation of microtubules in neurons pharmacologically depleted of actin filaments. Actin depletion reduced but did not eliminate the anterograde movements and had no effect on the frequency of retrograde movements. Consistent with the idea that microtubules might also move against neighboring microtubules, actin depletion completely inhibited the outward transport of microtubules under experimental conditions of low microtubule density. Interestingly, visualization of microtubule assembly shows that actin depletion actually enhances the tendency of microtubules to align with one another. Such microtubule-microtubule interactions are sufficient to orient microtubules in their characteristic polarity pattern in axons grown overnight in the absence of actin filaments. In fact, microtubule behaviors were only chaotic after actin depletion in peripheral regions of the neuron in which microtubules are normally sparse and hence lack neighboring microtubules with which they could interact. On the basis of these results, we conclude that microtubules are transported against either actin filaments or neighboring microtubules in the anterograde direction but only against other microtubules in the retrograde direction. Moreover, the transport of microtubules against one another provides a surprisingly effective option for the deployment and orientation of microtubules in the absence of actin filaments.

Actin Cytoskeleton↗

Repeated exposures to subthreshold doses of chlorpyrifos in rats: hippocampal damage, impaired axonal transport, and deficits in spatial learning.

Organophosphorus (OP) compounds are detectable in the environment for years after use and endanger many populations. Although the effects of acutely toxic doses of many OP compounds are well described, much less is known about repeated low-level exposures. The purpose of these studies was to further evaluate potential toxicological effects of the extensively used OP pesticide chlorpyrifos (CPF) in rats. CPF, across a range of subthreshold doses (i.e., for acute toxicity), reduced rearing and sniffing activity and the magnitude of weight gain over 14 days of repeated exposure. Performance in a spatial learning task was impaired after 14 days of exposure to CPF (18.0 and 25.0 mg/kg) when testing was initiated 24 h after the last injection but not after a 14-day washout. However, inhibition of both fast anterograde and retrograde axonal transport was observed for up to 20 days after exposure to 25.0 mg/kg CPF. Studies using hippocampal cultures indicated that 8 days of continuous exposure to the parent compound, CPF (> or =100 micro M), resulted in cell toxicity and death. Furthermore, a dose (2.5 mg/kg) of CPF that had no effects on weight gain or memory performance when administered 5 days per week over 38 days impaired forelimb grip strength in the later days of testing. Collectively, these results indicate that repeated exposures to subthreshold doses of CPF may lead to growth retardation, behavioral abnormalities, and muscle weakness. Some of these symptoms may be attributed to effects of the OP on axonal transport.

Animals↗

Retarded axonal transport of R406W mutant tau in transgenic mice with a neurodegenerative tauopathy.

Intracellular accumulations of filamentous tau inclusions are neuropathological hallmarks of neurodegenerative diseases known as tauopathies. The discovery of multiple pathogenic tau gene mutations in many kindreds with familial frontotemporal dementia with parkinsonism linked to chromosome 17 (FTDP-17) unequivocally confirmed the central role of tau abnormalities in the etiology of neurodegenerative disorders. To examine the effects of tau gene mutations and the role of tau abnormalities in neurodegenerative tauopathies, transgenic (Tg) mice were engineered to express the longest human tau isoform (T40) with or without the R406W mutation (RW and hWT Tg mice, respectively) that is pathogenic for FTDP-17 in several kindreds. RW but not hWT tau Tg mice developed an age-dependent accumulation of insoluble filamentous tau aggregates in neuronal perikarya of the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, cerebellum, and spinal cord. Significantly, CNS axons in RW mice contained reduced levels of tau when compared with hWT mice, and this was linked to retarded axonal transport and increased accumulation of an insoluble pool of RW but not hWT tau. Furthermore, RW but not hWT mice demonstrated neurodegeneration and a reduced lifespan. These data indicate that the R406W mutation causes reduced binding of this mutant tau to microtubules, resulting in slower axonal transport. This altered tau function caused by the RW mutation leads to increased accumulation and reduced solubility of RW tau in an age-dependent manner, culminating in the formation of filamentous intraneuronal tau aggregates similar to that observed in tauopathy patients.

Aging↗

Effects of graded experimental compression on slow and fast axonal transport in rabbit vagus nerve.

Effects of compression at low pressures on slow and fast axonal transport was investigated in rabbit vagus nerve. Proteins in the sensory fibres were radiolabelled by injection of [3H]leucine or [35S]methionine into the nodose ganglion. A small compression chamber and/or ligatures were applied around the cervical part of the vagus nerve for 8 h, at an appropriate time for the subsequent analysis of the effects of compression on both slow and fast transport of radiolabelled proteins. In normal nerves there were two waves of slowly transported proteins with rates of about 12-15 and 25-30 mm/day, respectively. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was used and confirmed that the main proteins which accumulated proximal to the ligatures had a molecular weight of 54 000-56 000. Neither compression of the nerve at 20 mm Hg nor sham-compression induced any statistically significant accumulation of slowly transported proteins at the site of compression. A higher pressure, i.e. 30 mm Hg, induced a marked but incomplete accumulation of slowly transported proteins. Fast transport was partially inhibited in some, but not all, nerves, when 20 mm Hg was applied for 8 h, in contrast to the lack of effect found previously with the same pressure applied for only 2 h. Despite these slight differences, the results indicate that both slow and fast transport are impaired by low pressure levels of around 20-30 mm Hg, which are comparable with those found in human compression neuropathies. The impaired provision of cytoskeletal elements to the distal axon may be of significance in the pathophysiology of nerve entrapment syndromes.

Animals↗

Rapid axonal transport of glycerophospholipids in regenerating hypoglossal nerve of the rabbit.

The intraaxonal transport of phospholipids in regenerating hypoglossal nerve of the rabbit was investigated by administration of labeled lipid precursors into the medulla oblongata. At various time intervals after crushing the left hypoglossal nerve at the level of the digastric muscle, a mixture of 60 mu Ci of [2-3H]glycerol and 15 mu Ci of [1-14C]palmitate, dissolved in 15% bovine serum albumin, was injected into the calamus scriptorius of the fourth ventricle. The amount and the pattern of labeling of glycerophospholipids synthesized in the motor neurons were determined. Three days after nerve crush there was an accumulation of labeled glycerophospholipids immediately proximal to the injury site. Seven days after crushing, the regenerating nerve incorporated rapidly transported labeled lipids in greater amounts than the contralateral normal nerve; the incorporation was elevated along the entire length of the nerve containing both regenerating axons and the post-crush sprouting terminals. The difference between the two sides increased up to 14 days, but disappeared as regeneration proceeded (21-45 days). The "pool" of radioactive lipids remaining in the cell bodies of hypoglossal nuclei, in the segments of nerve, both proximal and distal to the crush site, and in all the segments of uncrushed nerve was similar 6-12 h after labeling. Among the phospholipids, the highest 3H and 14C radioactivity was observed in phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine. These results support the hypothesis than an increase in the amount of glycerophospholipids, conveyed by rapid axonal transport, takes place in the first 2 weeks during nerve regeneration. The increased transport of lipids presumably reflects an augmented demand for membrane precursors during the sprouting process.

Animals↗

Biological importance of retrograde axonal transport of nerve growth factor in adrenergic neurons.

Previous studies have shown that nerve growth factor (NGF) produces a selective induction of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) in peripheral adrenergic neurons and that NGF is transported retrogradely with a high selectivity from the adrenergic nerve terminals to the perikaryon. In order to investigate the biological importance of retrograde NGF transport, the following experiments have been performed; (a) effect of NGF on TH activity in superior cervical ganglia (SCG) after unilateral injection into the anterior eye chamber and the submaxillary gland; and (b) effect of systemic injection of NGF on TH activity in SCG after blockage of retrograde axonal transport by axotomy. After unilateral injection of NGF into the anterior eye chamber and submaxillary gland of both 8-10-day-old rats and adult mice, the increase in TH activity in the SCG was considerably larger on the injected than on the non-injected side although the adrenergic neurons supplying the two organs do not account for more than 25% of the total number of adrenergic neurons in the SCG. A direct diffusion mechanism could be excluded by the fact that unilateral local injection of [125 I] produced no significant side difference in the accumulation of radioactivity in the SCG 2 after injection whereas after 14 h there was a several-fold difference between the injected and non-injected side. Moreover, the nodose ganglia which are located very close to the SCG exhibited no statistically significant difference in the accumulation of radioactivity at any time. Forty-eight hours after subcutaneous injections of 10 mg/kg of NGF the increase in TH activity of the SCG amounted to 154% on the intact side and to 92% on the axotomized side. However, these experiments do not permit decisions about the extent the axotomy, as such, impaired the response to NGF. It is concluded that the biological effect of NGF results to a considerable extent, from the moiety which reaches the cell body by retrograde transport from the nerve terminals.

Animals↗

Uptake and retrograde axonal transport of horseradish peroxidase in regenerating facial motor neurons of the mouse.

Uptake and retrograde axonal transport of intravenously injected horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was studied during regeneration after a crush injury of the facial nerve of the mouse. The circulation time of HRP was 12 to 24 h. HRP injected immediately after the crush diffused into injured axons in the crushed region and accumulated subsequently in perikarya of facial neurons in the brain stem. After a time interval of 1 h or 5 days between the crush and the injection only a faint HRP accumulation occurred in a few facial neurons. After an interval of 7 days a moderate number of neurons had incorporated the tracer, while after more than 9 days the HRP activity in the regenerating neurons was more pronounced than in the contralateral neurons. Ultrastructurally, muscles of the vibrissae showed denervated subneural apparatuses 6 days after the crush. 8 days after the crush regenerating axon terminals containing small clusters of synaptic vesicles, dense cored vesicles and some HRP-labelled vesicles, were found over some gutters and after 10 to 13 days all examined gutters contained axon terminals with large numbers of synaptic vesicles and some HRP-containing vesicles. More than one axon terminal profile was seen in the same synaptic gutter. 32 and 64 days after the crush the neuromuscular junctions had regained a more mature appearance. The calibre spectra of the crushed facial nerves still showed a shift towards smaller diameters 134 days after the crush, at a time when a slight increase in HRP activity in the facial neurons persisted.

Animals↗

Failure of increased intracranial pressure to affect rapid axonal transport at the optic nerve head.

In owl monkeys, elevation of intracranial pressure to 500 mm. saline for 4 to 7 hours failed to cause an accumulation at the optic nerve head of protein carried by rapid axonal transport. This suggests that the block of rapid transport observed by others during papilledema may be the result of axon swelling, not its cause. Alternatively, more than 8 hours may be required for intracranial pressure to show an effect, only the slow transport may be affected initially, or other factors than simple hydrostatic pressure may be operative in papilledema. In addition, the elevated intracranial pressure did not prevent the block of axonal transport at the lamina cribrosa produced by elevated intraocular pressure, even though the elevated intracranial pressure reduced the pressure gradient to which the axon is subjected as it crosses the lamina cribrosa. Perhaps the block produced by intraocular pressure is not due to a simple mechanical or hydrostatic mechanism.

Animals↗

Uptake and anterograde axonal transport of wheat germ agglutinin from retina to optic tectum in the chick.

The uptake and anterograde axonal transport of 125I-wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) has been investigated in the visual system of the chick. In order to obtain a marker with specific and homogeneous binding properties, the iodinated lectin was affinity purified by passage over an N-acetylglucosamine (NAcGlu)-Sepharose column after iodination. 22 h after vitreal injection of the purified 125I-WGA, radioactive label was found accumulated in the retinoreceptive layers of the contralateral optic tectum. Gel electrophoresis of tectal homogenates revealed that greater than 80% of the retrieved label ran in a band which comigrated with native WGA. In chicks injected with the fraction of the iodinated preparation that failed to bind to the affinity column, there was no evidence of tectal labeling. These findings support the hypothesis that WGA is selectively taken up by chick retinal ganglion cells and transported intact in an anterograde direction to their axon terminals in the contralateral optic tectum. This raises the possibility that constituents of perikaryal membrane, i.e., lectin receptors, are transported in an anterograde direction by chick retinal ganglion cells.

Afferent Pathways↗

Nerve terminal proteins of the rabbit visual relay nuclei identified by axonal transport and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis.

The proteins in nerve terminals can be uniquely identified by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of proteins labeled during synthesis in the cell body and then transported intra-axonally to the terminals. We have explored the potential of the identification procedure by comparing the proteins which are transported from the retina to the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) and the superior colliculus (SC) of the rabbit. We have been able to identify between 150 and 200 proteins which ate common to both LGN and SC nerve terminals, very few of which are present at significantly different concentrations in one nucleus relative to the other. The similarity between proteins sent from the retina along two neural pathways subserving different functions illustrates the subtlety of biochemical changes that must underlie physiological differences. Only a small fraction of the labeled proteins are major proteins of the relay nuclei as judged by Coomassie-staining, and some of these arise from in situ nonspecific labeling with blood-borne radioactivity, rather than by transport to the terminals. We have shown that about 5 times more proteins are transported at fast than at intermediate transport rates. More than 50% of the fast proteins turn over rapidly and are gone in 24 h. Few intermediate proteins turn over rapidly. Since only 6% of the proteins in the relay nuclei (at 36 h) could not be detected in the optic tract at that time, transsynaptic labeling by breakdown and resynthesis must be small, if it occurs at all.

Animals↗

The effects of trifluoperazine on fast and slow axonal transport in the rabbit vagus nerve.

The effects of trifluoperazine (TFP) on fast and slow axonal transport (AXT) of labeled proteins were examined in the rabbit vagus nerve. Cuffs soaked in a 10 mM, but not 0.1 mM or 1 mM, concentration of TFP applied locally around the vagus nerve in vivo blocked both fast and slow AXT, as measured by the accumulation of 3H-labeled proteins. In vitro, fast AXT was affected by 0.1 mM TFP. The TFP cuff treatment caused a reduction in the number of axonal microtubules (MT) whereas cuffs soaked in saline had no effect. The levels of ATP, ADP, and AMP were not significantly lowered by the TFP treatment. The results suggest that both fast and slow AXT are sensitive to TFP treatment, and that the axonal MT-system may be the main target of the drug.

Adenine Nucleotides↗