Local supply of energy to the fast axoplasmic transport mechanism

Abstract

Local anoxia of a small region of cat sciatic nerves causes a block of fast axoplasmic transport in vitro. Activity becomes dammed up at the face of the anoxic region, and falls off rapidly distally just inside the anoxic region. Such blocks were reversible if they were removed within 1 hr. Earlier studies had given evidence that fast axoplasmic transport is closely dependent on ATP derived from oxidative metabolism. The present results indicate that ATP is required all along the length of the nerve fiber to supply a hypothesized "transporting filament" mechanism of fast transport.