Selective expression of Jun proteins following axotomy and axonal transport block in peripheral nerves in the rat: evidence for a role in the regeneration process.

Expression of the protein products of the immediate-early genes (IEGs), members of the fos, jun and krox families (Jun, Fos, and Krox, resp.) was investigated in the spinal cord and sensory ganglia (DRG) of normal rats; and following transection of, block of axonal transport in, or electrical stimulation of their peripheral axons. The nuclei of many moto- and DRG neurons showed a faint basal immunoreactivity (IR) for Jun proteins, but not for Fos or Krox proteins. There was a strong and selective induction of Jun-IR in moto- and DRG neurons after peripheral nerve transection or crush, or colchicine- or vinblastine-induced block of axonal transport. The Jun-IR induced by nerve transection disappeared after nerve regeneration. In contrast, Jun, Fos and Krox proteins were all induced transynaptically in spinal dorsal horn neurons following electrical stimulation of the C-fibers in the afferent nerves. Thus in differentiated neurons in vivo these IEG proteins can be expressed either independently or concomitantly depending on the type of stimulus.