Reversal of axonal transport: similarity of proteins transported in anterograde and retrograde directions

Time-course of nociceptive disorders induced by chronic loose ligatures of the rat sciatic nerve and changes of the acetylcholinesterase transport along the ligated nerve

Changes in the axonal transport of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) were studied in the painful mononeuropathy induced by setting 4 loose ligatures around the right sciatic nerve of the rat. Since changes in the axonal transport of AChE can be used to assess axonal degeneration/regeneration, we used this marker to investigate whether the time course of pain-related behavioral disorders observed following chronic constriction injury (CCI) to the sciatic nerve are related to the time course of the regeneration of the injured axons. In addition, a comparison was made between changes in AChE observed in this model of nerve injury and those observed after sciatic nerve crush. The rats were examined for pain-related disorders daily during the first postoperative week then at 7, 14 and 21 days after nerve ligation. The pain-related disorders, only detected from 7 days after ligation, were maximal at 14 days postinjury, and began to lessen at the end of the 3rd postoperative week. Within the first 3 days after loose ligation, the AChE transport dropped to 40% of its normal value, but recovered rapidly during the 3rd week post-surgery, indicating that most of the injured neurons were reconnecting their target cells. Thus, the injury produced by the loose ligatures was registered by the neurons several days before the first nociceptive manifestations of the injury, and the pain-related disorders lasted after most of the re-elongating axons had reconnected their target.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Differences in the distribution of cytochrome b561 and synaptophysin in dog splenic nerve: a biochemical and immunocytochemical study

Compared with neurons of the CNS, the organization of the peripheral adrenergic axon and nerve terminal is more complex because two types of neurotransmitter-containing vesicles, i.e., large (LDVs) and small dense-core vesicles, coexist with the axonal reticulum (AR) and the well-characterized small synaptic vesicles. The AR, which is still poorly examined, is assumed to play some role in neurosecretion. We have studied the subcellular localization of noradrenaline, cytochrome b561, and synaptophysin in control and ligated dog splenic nerve using both biochemical and ultrastructural approaches. Noradrenaline and cytochrome b561 coaccumulated proximal to a ligation, whereas distally only the latter was found. Despite a codistribution with noradrenaline at high densities in sucrose gradients, synaptophysin did not accumulate on either side of the ligation. At the ultrastructural level, cytochrome b561 immunoreactivity was found on LDVs and AR elements, both accumulating proximal to the ligation. Distally, the multivesicular bodies (MVBs), immunolabeled for cytochrome b561, account for the retrograde transport of LDVs and AR membranes retrieved at the nerve terminal. No synaptophysin immunoreactivity could be detected on LDVs, AR, or MVBs. The results obtained from the ligation experiments together with the ultrastructural data clearly illustrate that synaptophysin is absent from LDVs and AR elements in adrenergic axons.

Relationships between the rapid axonal transport of newly synthesized proteins and membranous organelles

Rapid axonal transport is generally viewed as being exactly analogous to the secretory process in nonneuronal cells. The cell biology of rapid axonal transport is reviewed, the central concern being to explore those aspects that do not fit into the general secretory model and which may thus represent specific neuronal adaptations. Particular attention is paid to the relationship between the transport of newly synthesized proteins and of the membranous organelles that act as carriers. Sites in the transport sequence at which the behavior of axonal transport may differ from the secretory model are at the initiation of axonal transport at the trans-side of the Golgi apparatus, within the axon where molecules are deposited from the moving phase to a stationary phase, and at nerve terminals or axonal lesions where transport reversal takes place.

Axonal transport reversal of acetylcholinesterase molecular forms in transected nerve

Reversal of anterograde rapid axonal transport of four molecular forms of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) was studied in chick sciatic nerve during the 24-h period following a nerve transection. Reversal of AChE activity started approximately 1 h after nerve transection, and all the forms of the enzyme, except the monomeric ones, showed reversal of transport. The quantity of enzyme activity reversed 24 h after transection was twofold greater than that normally conveyed by retrograde transport. We observed no leakage of the enzyme at the site of the nerve transection and no reversal of AChE activity transport in the distal segment of the severed nerve, a result indicating that the material carried by retrograde axonal transport cannot be reversed by axotomy. Thus, a nerve transection induces both quantitative and qualitative changes in the retrograde axonal transport, which could serve as a signal of distal injury to the cell body. The velocity of reverse transport, measured within 6 h after transection, was found to be 213 mm/day, a value close to that of retrograde transport (200 mm/day). This suggests that the reversal taking place in severed sciatic nerve is similar to the anterograde-to-retrograde conversion process normally occurring at the nerve endings.

Protein changes during anterograde-to-retrograde conversion of axonally transported vesicles

In the axon tip, cell biological mechanisms convert anterogradely transported membranous elements. To study the effects of these anterograde-to-retrograde (A-R) converting mechanisms on the electrophoretic behaviour of vesicle proteins, we compared the proteins of anterograde vesicles (before A-R conversion at the axon tip) with those of retrograde vesicles (after A-R conversion at the axon tip). The proteins in transported vesicles were pulse-labeled with [35S]methionine, and the radiolabeled vesicles were concentrated by ligating the axons-anterograde vesicles accumulate selectively on the proximal side of the ligature and retrograde vesicles accumulate on the distal side of the ligature. Analyses of vesicle proteins by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) show that most of the anterograde proteins were also present in the retrograde vesicles. In addition to the conservation of these anterograde proteins in the retrograde vesicles, there were also many differences: some anterograde proteins were diminished in the retrograde vesicles, other anterograde proteins were absent from the retrograde vesicles, and the retrograde vesicles contained some new protein bands that were not present in the anterograde vesicles. These results indicate that A-R converting mechanisms modify membranous vesicle proteins in the axon tip. We propose that some of these post-translational protein modifications change the directional code on the vesicle surfaces, thereby converting anterograde membranous elements into retrograde membranous elements.

The release of axonally transported material from an in vitro amphibian sciatic nerve preparation

The rapid axonal transport of a pulse of [35S]methionine-labelled material was used to study the release of transported material from amphibian nerve maintained in vitro. Following creation of a moving pulse of activity in a dorsal root ganglion-sciatic nerve preparation, the ganglion was removed and the nerve placed in a three-compartment tray, the section of nerve in the middle compartment containing no truncated branches (unbranched section). All three compartments were filled with a saline solution that in some studies contained nonradioactive methionine (1.0 mmol/L). Analysis of studies in which nonradioactive methionine was absent revealed that labelled material appeared in the bathing solution of the end compartments that contained truncated branches, but not in the solution of the middle (unbranched) compartment. The quantity of label released in the branched compartments was approximately 6% of that remaining in the corresponding section of nerve following an 18-20 h incubation period. However, when nonradioactive methionine was present, all compartments showed an additional activity in the bathing solution of approximately 10% of that remaining in the nerve. In another study in which a position-sensitive detector of ionizing radiation was used to monitor progress of the pulse, it was found that activity did not enter the bathing solution of a compartment prior to the pulse of activity. It is concluded that in the absence of methionine from the bathing solution, axonally transported material is released only from regions of nerve that contain severed axons; however, the presence of methionine allows transported material to be released from nerve containing intact axons. Ultrafiltration studies and thin-layer chromatography revealed the majority of material released to be of low-molecular weight (less than 30,000 daltons) and not free [35S]methionine.

Rapid retrograde transport of proteins in sensory neurons in rats

Twenty-four hours following the injection of N-succinimidyl[2,3-3H]propionate into rat sciatic nerve, labeled protein appeared in the ipsilateral dorsal root ganglia. Autoradiography showed that the labeled proteins were found only in neuronal cell bodies. Gel electrophoresis showed a distinct pattern of rapidly retrogradely transported proteins were accumulating in the DRG cells. This is the first demonstration of the rapid retrograde transport of endogenous axonal proteins in mammalian peripheral nerve.

Orthograde, retrograde, and turnaround axonal transport of dopamine-beta-hydroxylase: response to axonal injury

Reversal of the direction (turnaround) of orthograde axonal transport of dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH) activity was studied at a ligature placed on rat sciatic nerve. DBH was allowed to accumulate at a ligature in vivo for selected intervals, at which time a second ligature was placed proximal to the first and turnaround transport measured just distal to the second tie after incubation in vivo or in vitro. Orthograde accumulation of DBH activity proximal to a ligature peaked at 2 days, and then rapidly decreased as a result of turnaround transport and injury-induced reduction of orthograde transport. Destruction of postganglionic sympathetic axon terminals in vivo with 6 hydroxydopamine resulted in a decrease in orthograde transport similar to that seen after axotomy and turnaround at or proximal to the site of chemical injury. Turnaround transport of DBH in vitro was blocked by incubation in the cold and in the presence of NaCN and vinblastine. Orthograde transport of DBH appeared to reverse direction within a few millimeters of a ligature.

Limitations to the usefulness of N-succinimidyl propionate for the study of retrograde axonal transport

Retrograde axonal transport of radiolabelled proteins was studied in rat sciatic nerve, after direct application of [3H]N-succinimidyl propionate. Waves of radiolabelled proteins were observed but only two proteins were predominantly labelled, one of molecular weight 68 kilodaltons (K) and the other of 19K. There was no evidence to confirm the waves as representing retrograde axonal transport of identifiable proteins, and the tendency of the covalent label to bind selectively in vivo to a small number of prominent proteins limits its usefulness for the detection of retrogradely transported proteins in general.

Axonal transport of the molecular forms of acetylcholinesterase in developing and regenerating peripheral nerve

In chick sciatic nerve, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) occurs in four main molecular forms characterized by their sedimentation coefficients in sucrose gradients, referred to as G1 (5S), G2 (7.5S), G4 (11S), and A12 (20S). Under normal conditions, we previously showed by accumulation technique that the G4 and A12 forms are rapidly transported along the axons, whereas G1 and G2 are carried much more slowly. Here, we used to the same technique to study the anterograde axonal transport of these different AChE forms during normal axonal growth and experimental regeneration. During the first 2 months after hatching, G4 and A12 transport virtually doubled, whereas G1 + G2 transport increased only slightly. After nerve cutting, crushing, or freezing, the flow rates of G1 + G2 and G4 in the regenerating proximal stump decreased by 75% at 4 to 7 days compared with control values and that of A12, by 90 to 95%. In crushed and frozen nerves the transport of all four AChE forms slowly recovered thereafter, but failed to attain control values even after 7 weeks. In cut nerves, on the contrary, no significant recovery of G1 + G2, or G4 transport occurred, but A12 transport began to recover by day 7. Taken together, our results show that axonal transport of G1 + G2, G4, and A12 is selectively regulated in chick sciatic nerve, and suggest that the A12 form of AChE might have a special role and/or destination in regenerating axons.

Retrograde transport of goldfish optic nerve proteins labeled by N-succinimidyl [3H]propionate

Following injection of the acylating reagent N-succinimidyl [3H]propionate into the optic nerve of goldfish, labeled protein appeared in the ipsilateral retina and contralateral tectum in a time-dependent manner. Autoradiography indicated the presence of the labeled material in the neuroplasm of the retinal ganglion cells and their projections. While most of the recoverable injected radioactivity was confined to the injection site even after 1 week, labeled proteins arriving in the retina by retrograde flow or in the tectum by anterograde flow had distinctly different patterns, a result suggesting specific transport processes rather than diffusion. In contrast to reported studies with the labeling agent in other species, a prominent 68,000 molecular weight component was not seen. The results are discussed in relation to the role of retrograde transport in regeneration.

Radioautographic study of the axonal transport of proteins into the sensory nerve endings of avian mechanoreceptors

The axonal transport of proteins to the nerve endings of Herbst and Grandry sensory receptors has been investigated by electron-microscope radioautography. Soon after the injection of [3H]leucine into the trigeminal ganglia of young ducks, labeled proteins are conveyed along the suborbital sensory nerves to the sensory nerve endings at rates of at least 200-280 mm/day. Most of these rapidly transported proteins accumulate in areas containing vesicles of various kinds and along the axolemmal region. Later, the bulk of labeled proteins migrate along the axons at rates of about 15 mm/day and are distributed mainly to the mitochondria. A small portion of labeled material is transferred to the adjoining modified Schwann and specialized Grandry receptor cells. It is concluded that the transport of proteins from sensory ganglia to sensory nerve endings of mechanoreceptors is conveyed at fast and intermediate rates and is mainly used for the renewal of vesicles, axolemmal constituents and mitochondria.

Acetylcholinesterase distribution in axotomized frog motoneurons

The distribution of acetylcholinesterase (AChE; EC 3.1.1.7) activity was examined in the perikarya and proximal axonal stumps of frog motoneurons injured by ventral root transection. Based upon measurements of net AChE accumulation in the proximal stumps of transected ventral roots, and upon orthograde clearances of AChE reported by others, it was determined that an amount of AChE equivalent to at least 0.7-2 times the perikaryal content of this enzyme enters the motor axon each day. A progressive decrease in the rate of AChE accumulation in transected axons during the first 3 days after ventral rhizotomy raised the possibility that excess enzyme might accumulate elsewhere within the axotomized motoneurons. However, AChE accumulation was detected only near the cut ends of the ventral roots and was not appreciably increased within injured motoneuronal cell bodies and proximal dendrites, which were isolated by a new method combining bulk and single-cell isolation techniques. These data suggest that AChE turnover is altered rapidly in response to axonal injury, thereby avoiding large perikaryal accumulations of this enzyme.