Colchicine prevents recovery of nerve conduction at chronic demyelination.

A colchicine cuff was applied to rat sciatic nerve proximal to a demyelinating region produced by a focal injection of lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC). The colchicine cuff prevented the recovery of function normally seen within 6-8 days after LPC-induced demyelination. Colchicine blocked the delivery of sodium channels to the demyelinated region and induced their accumulation proximal to the cuff. The dual effect of colchicine in blocking both the recovery of impulse propagation through the demyelinated region and the delivery of sodium channels suggests a central role for fast axonal transport of sodium channels in the recovery of function at demyelination.