Role of the Axis Cylinder in Transport of Tetanus Toxin

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Abstract
Evidence is presented to show that the neurofibrillae in the axis cylinder are the agents responsible for the transport of tetanus toxin to the cell bodies of motor nerves. In this transport the rate of progression has been measured. The expts. substantiate the theory that the tetanus toxin travels by the nerve-fiber route. The sciatic nerve was severed close to the knee in 8 guinea pigs and the nerves held in contact for 5 min. with an applicator stick dipped in tetanus toxin which had 75,000 m.l.d./ml. All animals died from tetanus within 72 hrs. On 8 other guinea pigs the sciatic nerve was frozen with CO2 snow. This causes degeneration of the axis cylinder but does not alter the blood supply or the neurilemma. The nerves were inoculated as above 16 days later. Two animals died 4 days later of undetd. cause, without signs of tetanus. The other 6 animals were sacrificed on the 6th day. The toxin had failed to reach the central nervous system. 8 animals were inoculated in like manner without freezing. Four of them received 0.5 ml. of tetanus antitoxin subcut. 10 min. before inoculation. The other 4 were given 0.1 ml. of antitoxin into the sciatic nerve central to the cut directly after inoculation. All were sacrificed 14 days later with no signs of tetanus. The av. length of the central stump of nerve was 57 mm. The av. time from injn. until the opposite limb began to show tetany was 17 hrs. Assuming uniform velocity, the rate of progression was 3.35 mm./hr.

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