[The effect of hormones on the rate of axonal transport in the ventral spinal nerve roots of rats].

The Wistar male rats in the age of 8-12 months were injected 7-8 microliter of aqueous solution of L-leucine-14C (specific activity 12543 megaBq/mmol) into the area of the ventral horn at the level of L5,6 segment of the spinal cord. The study of radioactivity in various sections of the respective frontal root was performed after one hour. It was found that estradiol dipropionate, testosterone propionate, insulin and small doses of thyroxin increased the axonal transport of the labelled material, while hydrocortisone, large doses of thyroxin, castration and thyroidectomy caused its delay. It is concluded that the axonal transport is under a pronounced hormonal control.