MACROPHAGE RESPONSE DURING AXONAL REGENERATION IN THE AXOLOTL CENTRALAND PERIPHERAL NERVOUS-SYSTEM

We have used a monoclonal antibody (5F4) and Griffonia lectin to study the recruitment of macrophages after crushing axolotl central and per ipheral axons. In both cases axonal regeneration begins within one to two days and, in the CNS, proceeds at a rate of about 0.05 mm per day. However, in the spinal cord, macrophage entry is restricted to the le sion site whilst in peripheral nerves macrophages rapidly enter the di stal nerve stump after injury. These results suggest that the role (if any) played by macrophages during axonal regeneration may differ in t hese two situations.