The Recovery of Slow Axonal Transport after a Single Intraperitoneal Injection of β,β′-Iminodipropionitrile in the Rat

A single intraperitoneal injection of β,β′-iminodipropionitrile (IDPN) at a dose of 1.5g/kg was given to 4-week-old rats. Immediately following, or at 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, and 15 weeks after EDPN injection, 35S]methionine was introduced into the anterior horn area of the lumbar cord. Labeled axonal proteins in the sciatic nerve were analyzed electrophoretically and fluorographically at 5, 10, and 15 weeks post-labeling. Labeled neurofilament proteins halt for a short period just after IDPN injection, then continue migrating distally, though at a slower rate, and finally the transport of affected neurofilament proteins completely recovers by 6 weeks post-labeling.