Spinal irradiation does not inhibit distal axonal sprouting
In an attempt to determine the relative importance of the nerve cell body and of the axon in initiating and controlling axonal regeneration, nerve cell bodies were irradiated and the ability of the distal axon to sprout was examined. Mice were subjected to either 25 or 50 Gray (Gy) of x-irradiation localized to the lumbar spinal cord. After times varying from 1 day to 6 months after irradiation, a sublethal dose of botulinum toxin (BoTx) was injected into the calf muscles of one leg. The soleus muscle was examined histologically after times varying from 1 week to 6 months after injection, and BoTx-induced ultraterminal axonal sprouting was assessed by the number of motor endplates showing sprouts, the length of the sprouts, and the long term endplate morphology. Apart from some irradiated subgroups having slightly shorter sprout lengths, no significant differences were found between irradiated and nonirradiated groups. The results suggest either that the processes in the nerve cell body responsible for initiating and supporting axonal growth are resistant to large doses of irradiation, or that growth regulatory mechanisms in the distal axon are under local control.
- Research Organization:
- National Hospital for Nervous Diseases, London (England)
- OSTI ID:
- 6971273
- Journal Information:
- Muscle Nerve; (United States), Journal Name: Muscle Nerve; (United States) Vol. 11:5; ISSN MUNED
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMAL CELLS
ANIMALS
ANTIGENS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RECOVERY
BIOLOGICAL REPAIR
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
IONIZING RADIATIONS
IRRADIATION
MAMMALS
MATERIALS
MICE
MUSCLES
NERVE CELLS
NERVOUS SYSTEM
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATIONS
RECOVERY
REPAIR
RODENTS
SOMATIC CELLS
SPINAL CORD
TOXIC MATERIALS
TOXINS
VERTEBRATES
X RADIATION