Rabbit sciatic nerve as a model for studying ganglioside metabolism in regenerating nerve.
The rabbit sciatic nerve contains a sufficient amount of gangliosides for chemical analyses. We have developed a method by which the dorsal root ganglion of L-7 can easily be injected with a radiolabeled precursor of ganglioside biosynthesis. We have used this to demonstrate that gangliosides are synthesized in dorsal root ganglia and then transported into peripheral nerve. Sialyltransferase-I activity is present in dorsal root ganglia, lumbosacral trunk, and sciatic nerve. This model is now well characterized for studies on ganglioside metabolism in degenerating and regenerating peripheral nerve.
D000818:Animals; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000502:physiology; D005732:Gangliosides / Q000378:metabolism*; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D011817:Rabbits; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000502:physiology*; D012799:Sialyltransferases / Q000378:metabolism; D000094802:beta-D-Galactoside alpha 2-6-Sialyltransferase
D005732:Gangliosides; D012799:Sialyltransferases; D000094802:beta-D-Galactoside alpha 2-6-Sialyltransferase