Extrinsic endoneurial cues for sorting of regenerated sensory and motor axons in the peripheral nervous system
| Authors | |
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| Year of publication | 2005 |
| Type | Article in Proceedings |
| Conference | Progress in Basic, Applied and Diagnostic Histochemistry |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Field | Neurology, neurosurgery, neurosciences |
| Keywords | extracellular matrix; neurotrophins; axonal growth |
| Description | We used optimized indirect immunofluorescence (IF) method to investigate a composition of the endoneurial extracellular matrix (ECM) and expression of neurotrophins in the rat intact and severed dorsal (Dr) and ventral (Vr) spinal roots as well as cutaneous (Cb) and muscular (Mb) branches of femoral nerves. Intensity of IF staining (brightness) was compared using the computer-assisted image analysis. Our results of IF measurement revealed a higher amount of ECM molecules in the intact peripheral nerve branches than spinal roots. Therefore, increased amounts of the molecules distal to the root injury were more distinct than in the distal nerve stumps. The results of IF analysis also indicated different amounts of the ECM molecules between nerve compartments with dominant endoneurial tubes of motor or afferent axons. In contrast to endoneurial ECM molecules, brightness for neurotrophins (BDNF, NGF, NT-3) was very similar in the Schwann cells of intact both spinal roots as well as Cb and Mb of the femoral nerve. All reactive Schwann cells distal to transection exhibited significantly higher IF intensity for the neurotrophins compared with the intact roots and nerves. However, spatial and temporal quantities of individual neurotrophins were variable. In conclusion, results of IF analysis suggest a quantitative difference in the extracellular and cellular molecular contents of intact and injured Dr and Vr as well as Cb and Mb of the femoral nerves, which may be involved in mechanisms for preference reinnervation of axons to the skin and muscles. |
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