Inhibition of Regeneration: The Ultrastructure of Reactive Astrocytes and Abortive Axon Terminals in the Transition Zone of the Dorsal Root Article

Stensaas, LJ, Partlow, LM, Burgess, PR et al. (1987). Inhibition of Regeneration: The Ultrastructure of Reactive Astrocytes and Abortive Axon Terminals in the Transition Zone of the Dorsal Root . 71(C), 457-468. 10.1016/S0079-6123(08)61846-4

cited authors

  • Stensaas, LJ; Partlow, LM; Burgess, PR; Horch, KW

authors

abstract

  • This chapter presents a study in which regenerating sensory axons have been shown to form abortive terminals in the transition zone of the dorsal roots of the spinal cord after a lesion to the nerve at a distant site. The axons vigorously regenerated in the peripheral nerve, penetrated the basal lamina, and then abruptly ceased to grow as soon as they entered central nervous tissue and met processes of reactive astrocytes. These abortive terminals contained little cytoskeletal material and an abundance of vesicles, endoplasmic reticulum, and abnormal organelles. Membrane specializations indicative of cell–cell interaction were observed. Mechanisms whereby the astrocytic processes might inhibit axonal outgrowth are discussed in the chapter. Astrocytes have long been known to play a major role in the reactive processes that occur following an injury to the central nervous system. One particularly advantageous model for studying the interaction between astrocytes and regenerating sensory axons is provided by the transition zone between peripheral and central portions of the nervous system in the dorsal root of the spinal cord. © 1987, Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

publication date

  • January 1, 1987

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

start page

  • 457

end page

  • 468

volume

  • 71

issue

  • C