Abstract
The kinetics of transport of radiolabeled proteins in sympathetic axons of the bullfrog sciatic nerve were examined after injection of [35S]methionine into the S9 sympathetic ganglion. Under resting conditions at 20 degrees C, the fastest moving material was carried distally at 5.7 +/- 0.3 mm/hr. Various manipulations of temperature in the proximal part of the nerve were used to alter the amount of protein transported into the distal region, which was always kept at 20 degrees C. The velocity in this test region was found to increase to over 9 mm/hr when material that had accumulated at a cold block for 4 hr was released by rewarming. This acceleration was transient, and base line velocity was regained after 2 hr. In order to increase the local concentration of transported protein by a second method, the proximal part of several nerves was warmed to 28 degrees C. Maximal transport velocity in the 20 degrees C test region rose to 6.2 +/- 0.12 mm/hr. To decrease the local concentration of transported protein, the proximal part of other nerves was cooled to 15 degrees C. Maximal transport velocity in the 20 degrees C test region fell to 4.7 +/- 0.7 mm/hr. We conclude that there is a small but real tendency for the velocity of rapid axonal transport in this neural system to be positively related to the availability of material suitable for transport.