The effect of electrical stimulation of brachiospinal nerves on protein synthesis in the forelimb regenerate of the newt

Gangliosides stimulate protein synthesis, growth, and axon number of regenerating limb buds

When a newt limb is amputated and begins to regrow, regenerating axons exert a neurotrophic influence on the limb regeneration process. Previous studies have shown that direct manipulation of limb nerves, by electrical stimulation or a conditioning lesion, elevates protein synthesis, increases neurotization and accelerates growth of the limb bud. Since exogenously supplied gangliosides accelerate axonal sprouting in regenerating nerves, we wanted to know whether gangliosides would similarly affect limb regeneration. To test this, regrowing limb buds were either infused with or immersed into gangliosides, or animals were injected intraperitoneally with gangliosides. Infused gangliosides elevated protein synthesis in limb buds 15% and increased the number of axons in limb buds 45% by 6 hours after infusion. Regenerating limb bud morphogenesis was initiated 3-4 days earlier in animals receiving i.p. injections of gangliosides every 12 hours. Similarly, limbs immersed daily in gangliosides began regrowth sooner than contralateral controls and this advantage was maintained throughout the period of observation. These findings indicate that treatment with gangliosides has a salutary effect on limb regeneration.

Neurotrophic and neuronotrophic effects in the regenerating newt limb bud after electrical stimulation of brachiospinal nerves

An earlier work demonstrated that electrical stimulation of newt brachiospinal nerves produces a 20% increase in protein synthesis in the regenerating limb bud at 6 h post-stimulation. The present study shows that if stimulation of nerve cell bodies is prevented by placing procaine between the cell bodies and the stimulating electrode, there is no increase in limb bud protein synthesis compared to the non-stimulated, contralateral control limb bud. Similarly, if colchicine is applied to the brachiospinal nerves at the site of and prior to stimulation, there is no increase in limb bud protein synthesis after stimulation. Colchicine applied to brachiospinal nerves in the absence of stimulation results in a reduction of limb bud protein synthesis that is of the same magnitude as the increase seen with stimulation. The results suggest that the neurotrophic increase in limb bud protein synthesis after stimulation is under the control of the cell body and that this control is mediated by changes in fast axonal transport. A neuronotrophic increase in axonal density in the stimulated side limb bud is seen at the same time as the increase in protein synthesis after stimulation.