Figure 1. Adenosine inhibits axonal degeneration in a dose-dependent manner.

A) DRG cultures were incubated with adenosine at various concentrations (1.25–10 mM), or NAD⁺ (5 mM), for 24 hr prior to axotomy. Axonal degeneration was monitored for up to 96 hr using phase contrast microscopy. B) The degeneration index was determined for each condition (see Materials and Methods). (*=p<0.05 compared to control at each timepoint, n≥20 fields from 2–3 independent experiments, blue bars indicate the presence of adenosine).