Axonal transport of actin and regeneration rate in non-myelinated sensory nerve fibres.

The relationship was examined between the rate of regeneration and rate of axonal transport of actin in the sensory fibres of the rabbit vagus nerve. Regeneration rate, determined as the distance moved by [35S]methionine-radiolabelled, fast-transported proteins beyond a crush, was about 3 mm/day. The rate of transport of actin, identified by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with fluorography, and DNase affinity chromatography, was 25-30 mm/day. No slower rate of actin transport comparable with regeneration rate, could be found in either control or regenerating nerves. While the provision of actin, by slow axonal transport, to the axonal growth cone may be essential for nerve regeneration, the regeneration rate is not directly controlled by the rate of actin transport.