Neuron-specific enolase: investigation on its possible retrograde axonal transport

The possible rapid retrograde axonal transport of neuron-specific enolase was investigated employing a sensitive radioimmunoassay. The right sciatic nerve of rats was ligated and 6 and 24 h later the nerve was cut in two 5.0 mm segments immediately proximal and distal to the ligature. Similar segments were taken from the contralateral nerve as a control. No increase in the amount of neuron-specific enolase in the right-distal segment was observed indicating that the protein is not a component of retrograde axonal transport.