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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 8, 2026

Retrograde Loading of Nerves, Tracts, and Spinal Roots with Fluorescent Dyes
06:47

Retrograde Loading of Nerves, Tracts, and Spinal Roots with Fluorescent Dyes

Published on: April 19, 2012

Basic techniques for long distance axon tracing in the spinal cord.

Daniel J Hellenbrand1, Katie E Kaeppler, Euhaa Hwang

  • 1Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, 53792; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, 53706.

Microscopy Research and Technique
|September 12, 2013
PubMed
Summary

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Researchers can now better track axon regeneration after spinal cord injury using biotinylated dextran amine (BDA) and cholera toxin-B tracers. Simple injection and detection protocols help quantify labeled axons for improved understanding of neural repair.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Regenerative Medicine
  • Spinal Cord Injury Research

Background:

  • Axon regeneration after spinal cord injury is crucial for recovery.
  • Assessing axon morphology, length, and origin is essential for understanding regeneration.
  • Biotinylated dextran amine (BDA) and cholera toxin-B are key axon tracers, but their application has complexities.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe simple procedures for injecting and detecting BDA and cholera toxin-B tracers.
  • To quantify the number of labeled axons at different spinal cord locations.
  • To provide insights into optimizing tracer administration for specific research needs.

Main Methods:

  • Detailed protocols for injecting biotinylated dextran amine (BDA) and cholera toxin-B.
Keywords:
anterogradeaxon tracerbiotinylated dextran aminecholera toxin-Bretrograde

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Last Updated: May 8, 2026

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06:47

Retrograde Loading of Nerves, Tracts, and Spinal Roots with Fluorescent Dyes

Published on: April 19, 2012

Retrograde Fluorescent Labeling Allows for Targeted Extracellular Single-unit Recording from Identified Neurons In vivo
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Retrograde Fluorescent Labeling Allows for Targeted Extracellular Single-unit Recording from Identified Neurons In vivo

Published on: June 26, 2013

The Preparation of Oblique Spinal Cord Slices for Ventral Root Stimulation
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  • Detection methods for visualizing labeled axons.
  • Quantification of axon labeling in the lumbosacral spinal cord following injections into the motor cortex, lateral vestibular nucleus, and reticular formation.

    • Main Results:

    • Axons from motor cortex injections reached the lumbosacral spinal cord within 2 weeks.
    • BDA injections into the lateral vestibular nucleus and reticular formation labeled axons in the lumbosacral spinal cord within 3 weeks.
    • The study provides quantitative data on axon labeling and insights into optimizing procedures.

    Conclusions:

    • The described procedures offer a straightforward approach for axon tracing in spinal cord research.
    • These methods can be adapted to various laboratory settings to study axon regeneration.
    • Understanding tracer kinetics and optimizing administration sites are key to successful axon labeling.