CHANGES OF FAST AXONAL-TRANSPORT BY TAXOL INJECTED SUBEPINEURALLY INTO THE RAT SCIATIC-NERVE

In contrast to the complete and long-lasting inhibition of tubulin transport. taxol has no effect on fast axonal transport examined immediately after its sub-epineural application to rat sciatic nerve. However, a significant accumulation of rapidly migrating radioactivity appears at the site proximal to the injection when examined a few weeks after treatment, probably due to mechanical obstruction caused by abnormal aggregation of a huge number of intra-axonal microtubules. It also decreases slightly in amount within a few weeks post-treatment, which may be due to reduction of the number of axons caused by degeneration.