Axoplasmic flow in axonal neuropathies I. Axoplasmic flow in cats with toxic neuropathies

A study of 'fast' and 'slow' axoplasmic flow of radioactivity following the injection with ³H leucine of the L7 dorsal root ganglion of cats suffering from toxic neuropathies is presented. Comparison was made between normal animals, and those intoxicated with vincristine, acrylamide and triorthocresyl phosphate. The heights of these waves in the intoxicated animals were normal. The rate of movement of the crests of the 'fast' waves, but not of the fronts, was reduced in all experimental groups. The velocity of the 'slow' wave was reduced only in triorthocresyl phosphate neuropathy. It is argued that this reduction of velocity is unlikely to be the cause of the axonal degeneration. The complexity of investigations of axoplasmic flow in toxic neuropathies is highlighted.