Incorporation of tritiated leucine by axotomized rubral neurons

Fourteen kittens, 7--10 weeks of age, were injected with [3H]leucine 0.5--24 h before sacrifice 1--30 days after unilateral high cervical rubrospinal tractotomy. Histoautoradiographs of the red nuclei were prepared and counterstained with thionin. Axon reaction, evident histologically 24 h after surgery, was manifested by central chromatolysis or diffuse cytoplasmic chromophobia. Partial reversion toward a normal cytologic appearance was apparent 10--30 days postoperatively. Nucleolar and nuclear shrinkage and cytoplasmic atrophy were conspicuous accompaniments of axon reaction in rubral neurons. Expressed per cell the radioactivity of axotomized rubral nerve cells was consistently less than controls in animals surviving operation from 5 to 30 days. The data indicate that axon reaction in red nucleus is regressive in character and early associated with diminished protein synthesis. The frequently regressive nature of axon reaction in intrinsic neurons, such as those of red nucleus, probably is important in accounting for failure of regeneration of many mammalian CNS fiber tracts after injury.