Neurological function following intra-neural injection of fluorescent neuronal tracers in rats  

作　　者：Wen Hu Dan Liu Yanping Zhang Zhongyi Shen Tianwen Gu Xiaosong Gu Jianhui Gu 

机构地区：[1]School of Biology and Basic Medical Sciences,Soochow University [2]Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration,Nantong University [3]Department of Hand Surgery,Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University [4]School of Medicine,Nantong University

出　　处：《Neural Regeneration Research》2013年第14期1253-1261,共9页中国神经再生研究（英文版）

基　　金：financially supported by the National High-Tech Research and Development Program of China(863 Program),No.2012AA020502;the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.81100939 and 81130080;the Collegiate Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province,No.10KJB310009;the Innovation Program for Collegiate Postgraduates of Jiangsu Province,No.CXZZ12_0872;the Qinglan Project of Jiangsu Province

摘　　要：Fluorescent neuronal tracers should not be toxic to the nervous system when used in long-term labeling. Previous studies have addressed tracer toxicity, but whether tracers injected into an intact nerve result in functional impairment remains to be elucidated. In the present study, we examined the functions of motor, sensory and autonomic nerves following the application of 5% Fluoro-Gold, 4% True Blue and 10% Fluoro-Ruby （5 pL） to rat tibial nerves via pressure injection. A set of evaluation methods including walking track analysis, plantar test and laser Doppler perfusion imaging was used to determine the action of the fluorescent neuronal tracers. Additionally, nerve pathology and ratio of muscle wet weight were also observed. Results showed that injection of Fluoro-Gold significantly resulted in loss of motor nerve function, lower plantar sensibility, increasing blood flow volume and higher neurogenic vasodilatation. Myelinated nerve fiber degeneration, unclear boundaries in nerve fibers and high retrograde labeling efficacy were observed in the Fluoro-Gold group. The True Blue group also showed obvious neurogenic vasodilatation, but less severe loss of motor function and degeneration, and fewer labeled motor neurons were found compared with the Fluoro-Gold group. No anomalies of motor and sensory nerve function and no myelinated nerve fiber degeneration were observed in the Fluoro-Ruby group. Experimental findings indicate that Fluoro-Gold tracing could lead to significant functional impairment of motor, sensory and autonomic nerves, while functional impairment was less severe following True Blue tracing. Fluoro-Ruby injection appears to have no effect on neurological function.Fluorescent neuronal tracers should not be toxic to the nervous system when used in long-term labeling. Previous studies have addressed tracer toxicity, but whether tracers injected into an intact nerve result in functional impairment remains to be elucidated. In the present study, we examined the functions of motor, sensory and autonomic nerves following the application of 5% Fluoro-Gold, 4% True Blue and 10% Fluoro-Ruby （5 pL） to rat tibial nerves via pressure injection. A set of evaluation methods including walking track analysis, plantar test and laser Doppler perfusion imaging was used to determine the action of the fluorescent neuronal tracers. Additionally, nerve pathology and ratio of muscle wet weight were also observed. Results showed that injection of Fluoro-Gold significantly resulted in loss of motor nerve function, lower plantar sensibility, increasing blood flow volume and higher neurogenic vasodilatation. Myelinated nerve fiber degeneration, unclear boundaries in nerve fibers and high retrograde labeling efficacy were observed in the Fluoro-Gold group. The True Blue group also showed obvious neurogenic vasodilatation, but less severe loss of motor function and degeneration, and fewer labeled motor neurons were found compared with the Fluoro-Gold group. No anomalies of motor and sensory nerve function and no myelinated nerve fiber degeneration were observed in the Fluoro-Ruby group. Experimental findings indicate that Fluoro-Gold tracing could lead to significant functional impairment of motor, sensory and autonomic nerves, while functional impairment was less severe following True Blue tracing. Fluoro-Ruby injection appears to have no effect on neurological function.

关 键 词：neural regeneration peripheral nerve injury neuronal tracing tracer toxicity neurological function FLUORO-GOLD True Blue Fluoro-Ruby grants-supported paper NEUROREGENERATION 

分 类 号：R741[医药卫生—神经病学与精神病学]