Lipid changes in the normal proximal and distal stumps of the rat sciatic nerve and during Wallerian degeneration.

The lipid composition of normal proximal and distal stumps of the rat sciatic nerve was studied. The highest lipid content was found in the proximal stump. A parallel decrease of lipid phosphorus, free cholesterol, and galactose contents were observed in both stumps until the 30th day of degeneration. 60 days after nerve section, the investigated parameters increased again in the proximal stump, but remaining, however below the normal values. During the same period, no such increase was found in the distal stumps. Phospholipids decreased in the proximal stump until 30 days after nerve section and increased thereafter. In the distal stumps, the phospholipids decreased sharply at 15 days after nerve section and their levels remained very low thereafter.