alpha(1)-tubulin expression in proximally axotomized mouse cortical neurons

This paper further characterizes the response to axotomy of mouse transcall osal cortical neurons, a population of neurons that seems to be particularl y refractory to regeneration. Mouse transcallosal cortical neurons did not upregulate mRNA for the growth-associated protein alpha(1)-tubulin followin g axotomy, even when the axonal distance from injury to cell body was only 100-300 mu m. Previous experiments had found no upregulation of another gro wth-associated protein, GAP-43, by transcallosal neurons following axotomy 1-2 mm from the cell body. These latest results establish that this populat ion of neurons fails to respond to axotomy even when it is extremely proxim al and that this failure is not a peculiarity specific to one growth-associ ated protein but is indicative of a generally poor regenerative response.