Cellular reactions to axotomy in rat superior cervical ganglia includes apoptotic cell death

The cellular response to axonal injury in the superior cervical ganglion was examined by immunofluoresence at intervals from 6 h to 14 days after transection of the internal and external carotid nerves. GAP-43-immunoreactivity (IR) appeared in some neurons in the ganglia 1 day after axotomy, while neurons in control ganglia were GAP-43 negative. In 3 days axotomized ganglia GAP-43-IR structures were increased in number and intensity in nerve fiber bundles, while GAP-43-positive perikarya were restricted to the middle and caudal parts of the ganglia and showed an intensity that was stronger than at 1 day after axotomy. These GAP-43-positive neurons were also galanin positive. In the cranial part of the ganglia, S100-IR in satellite cells was weak at 18 h after axotomy. Peripheral to this area, S100-IR was stronger and co-localized with HSP-72-IR, preferentially located in satellite cells. HSP-72-IR was, however, occasionally observed also in principal neurons at 1 and 3 days after axotomy. In eosin-stained sections, neurons and satellite cells in the cranial part of 1 day axotomized ganglia were reduced in number, and a further loss was noted at 3 days. At 12 h some satellite cells in the cranial part of the ganglia were labelled by the in situ DNA 3'-end labelling method, indicating apoptosis, and at 18 h many cells were labelled. Some neuronal perikarya were also labelled in this region. Labelling was not observed at 1 day or later after axotomy, nor in control ganglia. The results may imply that not only neurons but also satellite cells react to neuronal axonal injury with apoptosis. Neurons in the middle and caudal part of the ganglia survived and showed increased content of GAP-43 and galanin, possibly a sign of regeneration/neuronal plasticity.