The time course of noradrenaline decrease in rat spinal cord following transection

The time course of degeneration of bulbospinal monoamine neurones following spinal cord transection was studied biochemically and histochemically in 3 consecutive 1 cm parts distal to transection. In the part immediately below transection clear degenerative changes were found on day 2, in the more distal part on day 4, and latest in the most distal part. This time-sequence of nerve terminal degeneration is probably related to the interruption of the comparatively slow intra-axonal transport in these neurons. The results indicate a complex situation in the nerve terminal-receptor area in the caudal part of the spinal cord following transection.