Intrahypothalamically transected neurosecretory axons do not regenerate in the absence of glial cells

Fifteen days after transection of the hypothalamo-neurohypophysial tract at the lateral retrochiasmatic hypothalamic area, neurosecretory axons had vigorously regenerated into transplants of explanted hypophysial neural lobe, to a lesser extent into sciatic nerve transplants, and least into optic nerve transplants. Regenerating axons were always closely associated with the specific glial cells of these grafts. When these glial cells were killed by cryotreatment prior to transplantation, neurosecretory axons did not regenerate into the abundant extracellular matrix of the transplants, including persisting basal lamina tubes in neural lobe and sciatic nerve grafts. The presence of viable glial cells is a prerequisite for neurosecretory axon regeneration.