Axonal transport of radiolabeled materials in afferent fibers of rabbit vagus nerve following supranodose vagotomy.

[3H]leucine was injected into the nodose ganglion of the rabbit following ipsilateral supranodose vagotomy to eliminate the vagal efferent fibers. Labeled materials were transported in afferent fibers of the vagus nerve at fast transport rates of 12 cm/day and slow transport of 3-5 cm/day. In particular, axoplasm protein occupied about 40% of the highly labeled component of the slow transport, and the rate of this component was 1.8-2.5 cm/day. It was assumed that the highly labeled component was transported to the diaphragm region within at least 8 days and to the gastrointestinal region within 10 days.