ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at the role that fast axonal transport of protein might play in nerve regeneration, emphasizing the work in lab which suggests changes in certain fast-transported proteins at local regions of nerve regeneration. The region of axon distal to the damage undergoes dissolution and is phagocytized by invading cells. It is thought that the cell body plays a major role in successful regeneration of nerve. An interesting speculation is that biochemical responses occurring locally at sites of nerve injury or regrowth might provide information to the cell body about the state of the nerve. A massive release of fast-transported proteins from intact frog sciatic nerve was previously reported, but this observation was not confirmed when strict controls were used to avoid local incorporation of radiolabel. The results of experiments in laboratory and others are beginning to identify events occurring at local regions of nerve damage and regrowth that could play important roles in regeneration.
