Retrograde axonal transport of proteins in vitro in frog sciatic nerves

Abstract

Retrograde axonal transport of [ 3H]leucine-labeled proteins in frog sciatic nerves in vitro has been demonstrated. With the use of a special technique 10 a pulse of radioactivity was obtained at the distal part of the nerve. By measuring the subsequent redistribution of labeled material the retrograde transport phase was resolved. The transport rate was shown to be about 60 mm/day or half of the forward rate and the amount of material transported in the retrograde direction to be less than 10% of that transported in anterograde direction. Inhibition of transport by sodium cyanide, 2, 4-dinitrophenol and iodoacetic acid suggest that the mechanisms for the transport in the two directions are dependent on similar energy-producing processes. Retrograde transport showed sensitivity to vinblastine and resistance to cytochalasin B. The drugs are known to exert the same effects on anterograde transport in this system 2, 11. Accordingly the structural basis of retrograde transport may be in common with that of anterograde transport.