title: Fink-Heimer/Nauta demonstration of regenerating axons in the rat spinal cord.
abstract: Six months after complete spinal cord transection, regenerated descending motor axons can be found by electrophysiologic testing and can also be demonstrated anatomically using the Fink-Heimer/Nauta technique. Regeneration was found in all animals, treated or control, but statistically significant increased regeneration as measured by the Fink-Heimer/Nauta technique was found in animals treated with a single injection of 75 mg/kg of cyclophosphamide 24 hours after the original spinal cord transection. This result is similar to those of another study using the orthograde axonal transport of tritiated proline as a measure of axonal regeneration. The mode of action of cyclophosphamide may be by its immunosuppressive properties because this drug is most effective when administered 24 hours after cord transection, a time when its effects as an immunosuppressant would be maximal.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens; D001369:Axons / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000494:pharmacology; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005260:Female; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood; D051381:Rats; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D011188:Potassium