Retrograde axon reaction following section of asynaptic nerve fibers

Down-regulation of transcripts for Na channel alpha-SNS in spinal sensory neurons following axotomy

Spinal sensory (dorsal root ganglion; DRG) neurons display slowly inactivating, tetrodotoxin-resistant (TTX-R), and rapidly inactivating, TTX-sensitive (TTX-S) Na currents. Attenuation of the TTX-R Na current and enhancement of TTX-S Na current have been demonstrated in cutaneous afferent DRG neurons in the adult rat after axotomy and may underlie abnormal bursting. We show here that steady-state levels of transcripts encoding the alpha-SNS subunit, which is associated with a slowly inactivating, TTX-R current when expressed in oocytes, are reduced significantly 5 days following axotomy of DRG neurons, and continue to be expressed at reduced levels, even after 210 days. Steady-state levels of alpha-III transcripts, which are present at low levels in control DRG neurons, show a pattern of transiently increased expression. In situ hybridization using alpha-SNS- and alpha-III-specific riboprobes showed a decreased signal for alpha-SNS, and an increased signal for alpha-III, in both large and small DRG neurons following axotomy. Reduced levels of alpha-SNS may explain the selective loss of slowly inactivating, TTX-R current. The abnormal electrophysiological properties of DRG neurons following axonal injury thus appear to reflect a switch in Na channel gene expression.

Type III sodium channel mRNA is expressed in embryonic but not adult spinal sensory neurons, and is reexpressed following axotomy

1. In situ hybridization with subtype-specific probes was used to ask whether there is a change in the types of sodium channels that are expressed in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons after axotomy. 2. Types I and II sodium channel mRNA are expressed at moderate-to-high levels in control DRG neurons of adult rat, but type III sodium channel mRNA is not detectable. 3. When adult rat DRG neurons are examined by in situ hybridization 7-9 days following axotomy, type III sodium channel mRNA is expressed at moderate-to-high levels, in addition to types I and II mRNA that are present at relatively high levels. 4. To determine whether the expression of type III sodium channel mRNA following axotomy represents up-regulation of a gene that had been expressed at earlier developmental stages, we also studied DRG neurons from embryonic (E17) rats. In these embryonic DRG neurons, type I sodium channel mRNA is expressed at low levels, type II mRNA at high levels, and type III at high levels. 5. These results demonstrate altered expression of sodium channel mRNA in DRG neurons following axotomy, and suggest that in at least some DRG neurons, there is a de-differentiation after axotomy that includes a reversion to an embryonic mode of sodium channel expression. Different channel characteristics, as well as an altered spatial distribution of sodium channels, may contribute to the electrophysiological changes that are observed in axotomized neurons.

Ultrastructural changes in the dorsal motor nucleus of monkey following bilateral cervical vagotomy

The neurons of the dorsal motor nucleus (DMN) of the monkey (Macaca fascicularis) were of two main types: small (13 X 8 micron) and medium-sized (20 X 13 micron). The latter, which were the predominant form, contained a pale oval nucleus surrounded by organelle-rich cytoplasm. Between one and three long principal dendrites per section profile arose from each of the somata. Both axosomatic and axodendritic synapses were seen on these cells although the latter were more common. No structural changes were noted in the DMN 1-3 days after bilateral cervical vagotomy. Some of the dendrites of the medium-sized axotomized vagal neurons appeared darkened 5-10 days after the operation. With longer surviving intervals, i.e. 21 and 28 days after operation, darkened dendrites were more commonly seen and the cytoplasmic density of these dendrites was dramatically enhanced. Their mitochondria were pale and some of them also showed vesiculation. Both normal and degenerating axon terminals were seen to form synaptic contacts with the darkened dendrites. The degenerating axon terminals were characterized by the clumping of their round agranular vesicles. Both darkened dendrites and degenerating axon terminals were phagocytosed by hypertrophied astrocytes and activated microglial cells. Blood elements infiltrating into the DMN were a possible source for some of the neural macrophages. It was concluded from the present study that the dendrites of the vagal neurons were the first structures to degenerate in axotomy and these were subsequently removed by glial elements. Degenerating axon terminals on the darkened dendrites could represent endings of the central processes of peripheral vagal ganglion cells that had undergone transganglionic degeneration after damage to their peripheral processes.

Retrograde labeling of regenerated electromotor neurons with HRP in a teleost fish, Sternarchus albifrons: relation to cell death

Back-labeling of regenerated electromotor neurons in the teleost Sternarchus albifrons was performed to test the hypothesis that, in regenerated spinal cord, incorrectly located electromotor neurons are eliminated because their axons do not reach the correct target area (electric organ). In each cross section examined, all of the regenerated electromotor neurons ipsilateral to the implantation site were labeled with horseradish peroxidase, including those ectopic cells located at the edge of the cord, which are later eliminated by selective cell death. Retrograde labeling of these ectopic neurons demonstrates that their axons do extend into the correct target area (the regenerated electric organ). Thus total misdirection of the axons cannot be the cause of their subsequent cell death. We conclude that selective neuronal death in this system does not reflect the absence of axonal projection to the correct target area.

Cell death of asynaptic neurons in regenerating spinal cord

The weakly electric fish Sternarchus albifrons possesses a unique class of asynaptic neurons, the electromotor neurons, whose axons constitute the electric organ. The cell bodies of origin of the electrocyte axons are located in the spinal cord. Both spinal cord and electromotor neurons ( electrocytes ) regenerate after amputation of the tail. Sternarchus spinal cords which have regenerated for 1 or more years show a progression in number of perikarya of electromotor neurons along the rostro-caudal axis. The most recently regenerated region of the cord is at the caudal end, which consists of a tube of ependyma. Progressing rostrally along regenerated spinal cord from the caudal end, numerous cells are generated and large numbers of electromotor neurons differentiate. The maximum number of electromotor neurons per transverse section of regenerated cord is five times higher than in normal mature cord. Rostral to this, the number of electromotor neurons decreases gradually to the normal number near the transition zone (the border with unregenerated cord). As the more rostral regenerated cord has presumably had a longer period of regeneration, we conclude that excess numbers of electromotor neurons are generated initially, and that subsequently the number of these neurons is decreased by cell death. This conclusion is supported by the fact that younger regenerates (2-4 months) have larger-than-normal numbers of perikarya of electromotor neurons extending up to the transition zone (Anderson and Waxman , 1981). No evidence of migration or depletion of electromotor neurons from unregenerated cord rostral to the amputation has been observed. Since the axons of the electromotor neurons in Sternarchus do not normally form any synapses, this study provides evidence that factors other than synaptic competition must be responsible for determining cell death during regeneration of these spinal neurons.

Fine structure of regenerated ependyma and spinal cord in Sternarchus albifrons

The caudal-most regenerated spinal cord in Sternarchus albifrons consists solely of an ependymal tube. Ependymal cells are enlarged radially and are more numerous than in unregenerated cord. Projections of ependymal cell cytoplasm and Reissner's fiber fill most of the central canal. Small groups of neurites and cell processes filled with dense-cored vesicles lie between abluminal processes of ependymal cells. Rostral to this, additional cells appear dorsal and lateral to the inner ependymal layer. Some cell bodies contain numerous dense-cored vesicles. Larger bundles of neurites, some with synapses, are present. Invaginations of the peripheral edge of the cord create enclosed spaces lined with basal lamina. In the peripheral region, longitudinally oriented neurites extend through extracellular spaces or channels. The ventral portion at some levels of regenerated cord is completely filled with neurites, processes containing dense-cord vesicles, and capillaries. Similar masses of neurites and processes containing dense-cored vesicles lie outside the cord proper, in or near the meningeal layer. In rostral-most sections, the organization of regenerated spinal cord approaches that of normal cord, with the regenerated cord exhibiting groups of myelinated axons, differentiated fibrous astrocytes and oligodendroglia, cell bodies containing dense-cored vesicles, and differentiated electromotor neurons. These observations indicate a degree of pluripotency in some of the ependymal cells in adult Sternarchus. Moreover, they are consistent with a role of ependymal cells in the guidance of regenerating neurites.