Axonal transport in mdx mouse sciatic nerve

Abstract

Anterograde and retrograde flows of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in sciatic nerves of adult mdx mice were compared with those of normal mice. Specific molecular forms of AChE were resolved by high-performance liquid chromatography such that slow anterograde (G 1 + G 2), fast anterograde and fast retrograde (G 4 and A 12) flows could be simultaneously studied. Although we found no difference in the total AChE activity and the molecular forms in non-ligated nerves between mdx and the normal mice, ligated nerves showed significant differences. The total AChE activity accumulated at the proximal segment of ligated nerve was higher in mdx mice than in normal mice after 24 h ligation. The G 1 + G 2 molecular forms were accumulated more in the proximal segment of mdx than the normal. A 12, on the other hand, was more abundant in both segments of mdx mice than the normal. No statistically significant difference in the accumulated amount of G 4 molecular form was present between mdx and the normal mice at either proximal or distal segment. These results indicated that axonal flow in sciatic nerve likely plays a role in muscle regeneration, and that the transport machinery in dystrophin-deficient mdx neuron is probably normal.