Incorporation of radiophosphate in the inorganic and organic acid-soluble phosphate fractions of the rat sciatic nerve during Wallerian degeneration. I. After nerve section (neurotmesis).

Plasma inorganic phosphate incorporation into inorganic and organic acid soluble phosphate fractions of the rat sciatic nerve shows, for one week after the operation, parallel increases in both crushed and sectioned nerves. After two weeks the incorporation in the distal part of the crushed nerve shows a progressive return to normal values remaining however significantly increased until the 90th day. These experiments confirm the possibility of an axonal inhibitory control on the Schwann cell metabolism.