Cytofluorometric quantification of somatopetally transported FITC-labelled lectins: enhanced uptake of Concanavalin A and wheat germ agglutinin from the periphery in regenerating facial nerve

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Abstract
Cytofluorometric quantification of the accumulation of somatopetally transported fluoro-isothiocyanate (FITC)-labelled wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) and Concanavalin A (Con A) were performed on sections of the mouse facial nucleus. The lectins were injected bilaterally in the snout region of six-week-old mice eleven days after one of the facial nerves had been crushed. Analysis of variance revealed a significantly higher uptake of both WGA and Con A in the regenerating than in the control nerve. WGA appeared to be taken up to a higher degree than Con A, both in normal and regenerating nerve. After application of the two lectins to the facial nerve immediately after injury, at the site of crushing, both WGA and Con A were taken up and transported to nerve cell bodies of the facial nucleus. The observed difference in uptake between WGA and Con A from injured axons was even more pronounced than that found in intact axons. No accumulation of fluorescent material was seen in the cell bodies of the facial nucleus after injection of four other lectins (dolichos biflorus agglutinin, peanut agglutinin, ulex europeus 1 agglutinin, soybean agglutinin) either into the snout or the area of the nerve crush.