Artikel
Fluoro-Ruby as a reliable marker for regenerating fiber tracts
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Veröffentlicht: | 27. September 2016 |
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Gliederung
Text
Axon visualization techniques are important in assessing the efficacy of interventional approaches to stimulate neural regeneration. While labeling of descending tracts in the spinal cord has been well established using intracortical injection of BDA (Biotin dextran amine), labeling of ascending sensory fibers of the dorsal funiculus is more problematic. Fluoro-Ruby (MW 10,000) is a bi-directional permanent tracer, but retrograde tracing of fibers is particularly prominent and is a highly sensitive tracer that can be applied in discrete injection sites. In the present report, we used Fluoro-Ruby (FR, dextran tetramethylrhodamine) to efficiently label regenerating fibers in the dorsal columns of the rat spinal cord. Following transplantation of olfactory ensheathing cells into the transected dorsal funiculus, application of Fluoro-ruby was able to detect regenerating ascending fibers in the spinal cord. Regenerated fibers crossing the injury site were labeled and easily identified. It is likely that the tracer is taken up by damaged fibers. As additional advantages the labeling is resistant to photo bleaching and no additional tissue processing is necessary for visualization. It can be used for in vivo- as well for in vitro-injections. Our findings indicate that Fluoro-ruby can be used as a reliable fluorescent marker to study ascending regenerated fibers in axonal regeneration.