Transient damage to the axonal transport system without Wallerian degeneration by acute nerve compression

The aim of this study was to examine whether acute nerve compression damages an axonal transport system based on microtubules and how the fibers recover after the compression. A 5-mm segment of the tibial nerve of male wistar rat was compressed with a specially designed clip. Functional recovery was assessed using Tibial Nerve Functional Index (TFI) (2). Rats were sacrificed each day from Day 0 to Day 2 and every 2 days between Day 4 and Day EO. For immunohistochemical analysis of the tibial nerve, the proximal uncompressed, the middle compressed, and the distal uncompressed segments of each section were assessed under immunofluoroscent microscopy for anti-dynein, anti-tubulin, and anti-neurofilament antibodies staining. In rats whose tibial nerve was compressed by 25 g/mm(2) of pressure for 5 min, staining of dynein and. mirotubules in the compressed portion were obscure on Days 4-8, suggesting that the microtubules based axonal transport system was temporarily damaged, while neurofilaments were retained. In contrast, in the distal portion, anti-neurofilament staining showed no abnormality throughout the experimental period, indicating that Wallerian degeneration did not occur. We conclude that acute nerve compression can cause transient damage to the axonal transport system in nerve fibers without Wallerian degeneration. (C) 1997 Academic Press.