Quantification of retrograde axonal degeneration ("dieback") in the rat corticospinal tract after axotomy
Subtitle: a confocal microscopy study using DiI.
Published: 2005
Language: eng
Number of pages: 98
Description: Retrograde degeneration (dieback) is a process in which injured axons retract away from the initial site of injury towards their cell body. In this study DiI axonal tracing with confocal microscopy was used to analyze the dynamics of dieback in corticospinal tract (CST) axons after various time intervals post-injury. Rats received transection injuries at the T8 spinal level and were sacrificed at different time periods. Three weeks prior to sacrifice, DiI crystals were implanted in the sensorimotor cortex of each rat, producing complete CST labeling to the ends of injured axons. Using confocal microscopy, dieback of the majority of axons was observed to be approximately 1.5mm at 1 week, 1.8mm at 2 weeks, and 2.5mm at 4 weeks. Although the majority of axons stop dying back afterwards, some axons continue to dieback for longer periods. This study provides useful information towards finding the optimal spatial-temporal window for regenerative treatment.
Notes: Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 44-02, page: 0771.

Thesis (M.Sc.)--University of Toronto, 2005.

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