A comparison of peripheral and central axotomy effects on neurofilament and tubulin gene expression in rat dorsal root ganglion neurons

Journal Article · Sun Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1990 · Journal of Neuroscience; (USA)

OSTI ID:6532428

Wong, J; Oblinger, M M ^[1]

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1. Chicago Medical School, IL (USA)

The expression of major cytoskeletal protein mRNAs was studied in adult rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons after crushing either their central or peripheral branch axons. mRNA levels in DRG neurons were examined by quantitative in situ hybridization with radiolabeled cDNA probes specific for the low-molecular-weight neurofilament protein (NF-L) and beta-tubulin. The large-sized (greater than 1000 microns 2) neurons which give rise to myelinated axons in lumbar ganglia (L4 and L5) were studied 1 d through 8 weeks after either dorsal root or sciatic nerve crush. NF-L and beta-tubulin mRNA levels in axotomized DRG neurons were compared to those in contralateral control DRG neurons, as well as to those in normal (completely untreated) DRG cells. In the case of NF-L mRNA, changes were observed after central as well as peripheral branch axotomy and the time course and magnitude of changes were similar after both types of axotomy. NF-L mRNA levels initially decreased (first 2 weeks after crush) and then began to return towards control levels at longer survival times. Similar, but less pronounced, changes in NF-L mRNA levels also occurred in contralateral DRG neurons (which were uninjured); the changes in contralateral neurons were not simply a result of surgical stress since no changes in NF-L mRNA levels were observed in sham-operated DRG neurons. In the case of tubulin mRNA, changes were observed after central as well as peripheral branch axotomy by in situ hybridization, but the time course and magnitude of changes were different after each type of axotomy.

• OSTI ID: 6532428
• Journal Information: Journal of Neuroscience; (USA), Journal Name: Journal of Neuroscience; (USA) Vol. 10:7; ISSN JNRSD; ISSN 0270-6474
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550201* -- Biochemistry-- Tracer Techniques
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ANIMAL CELLS
ANIMALS
AUTORADIOGRAPHY
BIOASSAY
BIOSYNTHESIS
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DNA
DNA HYBRIDIZATION
GENE REGULATION
HYBRIDIZATION
MAMMALS
MESSENGER-RNA
NERVE CELLS
NERVOUS SYSTEM
NUCLEIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PROTEINS
RATS
RNA
RODENTS
SOMATIC CELLS
SPINAL CORD
SYNTHESIS
VERTEBRATES