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The Journal of Neuroscience, June 15, 1999, 19(12):4718-4726

Temperature Modulation Reveals Three Distinct Stages of Wallerian Degeneration

Jack W. Tsao , Edwin B. George, and John W. Griffin

Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland 21287

After peripheral nerve transection, axons distal to the cut site rapidly degenerate, a process termed Wallerian degeneration. In wild-type mice the compound action potential (CAP) disappears by 3 d. Previous studies have demonstrated that cold temperatures and lower extracellular calcium ion (Ca2+) concentrations can slow the rate of Wallerian degeneration. We have incubated isolated sciatic nerve segments from wild-type and C57BL/Wld mice (which carry a gene slowing Wallerian degeneration) in vitro at 25 and 37°C. At 25°C we found that the degeneration rate of wild-type axons was slowed dramatically, with the CAP preserved up to 7 d post-transection. In contrast, at 37°C the CAPs were minimal at 2 d. When the temperature of wild-type nerves was raised to 37°C after 24-72 hr at 25°C, degeneration occurred within the subsequent 24 hr. Wld nerves, too, were preserved longer at 25°C but, on return to 37°C, degenerated promptly. Cooling the nerve within 12 hr after axotomy enhanced axonal preservation. Neither wild-type nor Wld nerves showed different degeneration rates when they were incubated with 250 µM or 5 or 10 mM extracellular Ca2+ for 1-2 d, suggesting that an abrupt increase in intracellular Ca2+ occurs at the time of axonal destruction. Wallerian degeneration, thus, appears to progress through three distinct stages. Initiation occurs at the time of injury with subsequent temperature-dependent and -independent phases. Nerves appear to remain intact and are able to exclude Ca2+ from entering until an as yet unknown process finally increases axolemmal permeability.

Key words: Wallerian degeneration; temperature; C57BL/Wld mice; axonal degeneration; calcium; in vitro

Copyright © 1999 Society for Neuroscience  0270-6474/99/19124718-09$05.00/0


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