Summary
The dynamics of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) transport in primary sensory neurons were studied in rats by demonstration of the reaction product in spinal nerves, spinal ganglia, dorsal roots and in the spinal cord at different survival times after application of the enzyme to the transected sciatic nerve and to the spinal cord. Using tetramethylbenzidine as the chromogen according to Mesulam (1978), transganglionic transport of HRP was shown in both the disto-proximal direction after peripheral application, and proximo-distal direction after central application. Significant differences in staining intensity between the central and peripheral processes of primary sensory neurons were found after all survival times used in this study. After peripheral application the number of labeled axons and the staining intensity were higher in spinal nerves than in dorsal roots; an inverse situation occurred after central application. These differences as well as the time sequences in staining of different parts of primary sensory neurons suggest that HRP applied to a peripheral nerve and to the spinal cord, respectively, enters the perikarya of spinal ganglion cells in any case before continuing its movement in a cellulifugal direction. Lysosomal degradation of the major portion of the applied HRP is supposed. However, in the post-perikaryal portion of a considerable number of neurons HRP-transport still occurs to a varying extent, thus resulting in labeling of nerve endings. In some neurons a post-perikaryal transport could not be detected light microscopically. The transport rates differ: the calculated transport rate of disto-proximal, cellulipetal movement in the fastest transporting neurons was 7.5 mm/h, that of the disto-proximal cellulifugal movement 2.5 to 3 mm/h.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alvarado-Mallart MR, Batini C, Buisseret-Delmas C, Corvisier J (1975) Trigeminal representation of the masticatory and extraocular proprioceptors as revealed by horseradish peroxidase retrograde transport. Exp Brain Res 23:167–179
Arvidsson J (1975) Location of cat trigeminal ganglion cells innervating dental pulp of upper and lower canines studied by retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase. Brain Res 99:135–139
Bund AM, Lund RD (1974) Blockage by vinblastine in retinal ganglion cells. Anat Rec 178:507–508
Ellison JP, Clark GM (1975) Retrograde axonal transport of horseradish peroxidase in peripheral autonomic nerves. J Comp Neurol 161:103–104
Furstman L, Saporta S, Kruger L (1975) Retrograde axonal transport of horseradish peroxidase in sensory nerves and ganglion cells of the rat. Brain Res 84:320–324
Grant G, Arvidsson J, Robertson B, Ygge J (1979) Transganglionic transport of horseradish peroxidase in primary sensory neurons. Neurose Letters 12:23–28
Ha H (1970) Axonal bifurcation in the dorsal root ganglion of the cat: a light and electron microscopy study. J Comp Neurol 140:227–240
Hinrichsen C (1975) Retrograde transport of HRP in the masseter muscle in the rat. Naturwissenschaften 62 (10): 492
Kristensson K, Olsson Y (1975) Retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase in transected axons. 2. Relations between rate of transfer from the site of injury to the perikaryon and onset of chromatolysis. J Neurocytol 4:653–661
Kristensson K, Olsson Y (1976) Retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase in transected axons. 3. Entry into injured axons and subsequent localization in perikaryon. Brain Res 115:201–213
La Vail JH, La Vail MM (1975) The retrograde intraaxonal transport of horseradish peroxidase in the chick visual system: a light and electron microscopic study. J Comp Neurol 157:303–358
Mesulam MM (1978) Tetramethyl benzidin for horseradish peroxidase neurohistochemistry: a non-carcinogenic blue reaction-product with superior sensitivity for visualizing neural afferents and efferents. J Histochem Cytochem 26:106–117
Mesulam MM, Brushart TM (1979) Transganglionic and anterograde transport of horseradish peroxidase across dorsal root ganglia: a tetramethylbenzidine method for tracing central sensory connections of muscles and peripheral nerves. Neuroscience 4:1107–1117
Neuhuber W, Niederle B (Submitted for publication) Survival time — dependent differences in the RHP — labeling of small and large neurons
Neuhuber W, Niederle B, Zenker W (1977) Somatopetal transport of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) in the peripheral and central branches of dorsal root ganglion cells. Cell Tissue Res 183:395–402
Nishino H, Ono T, Sasaki K (1977) Transposition of horseradish peroxidase in rat sciatic nerve. J Physiol Soc Jpn 39:331
Ochs S, Erdman J, Jersild RA, McAdoo V (1978) Routing of transported materials in the dorsal root and nerve fiber branches of the dorsal root ganglion. J Neurobiology 9:465–481
Oppenheim RW, Heaton MB (1975) The retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase from the developing limb of the chick embryo. Brain Res 98:291–302
Yoshida S, Matsuda Y (1979) Studies on sensory neurons of the mouse with intracellular-recording and horseradish peroxidase injection technique. J Neurophysiol 42:1134–1145
Zenker W, Mayr R, Gruber H (1973) Axoplasmic organelles: quantitative differences between ventral and dorsal root fibers of the rat. Experientia 29:77–78
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This work was partly supported by the Hartmann Müller-Stiftung I want to thank Miss Regula Eichholzer for the technical assistance
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Zenker, W., Mysicka, A. & Neuhuber, W. Dynamics of the transganglionic movement of horseradish peroxidase in primary sensory neurons. Cell Tissue Res. 207, 479–489 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00224621
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00224621