Amphibian sympathetic ganglia as a model system for investigating regeneration in the vertebrate peripheral nervous system.

1. The paravertebral sympathetic ganglion of the bullfrog serves as an excellent experimental system in which to study the response of vertebrate neurones to axotomy and the mechanisms associated with regeneration. 2. Various types of lesions to the axons (axotomy) of these neurones promote distinct and reproducible changes in the electrophysiological properties of the cell bodies which are not a consequence of changes in cell body morphology. 3. The axotomy-induced increase in spike width and decrease in the amplitude of the action potential after-hyperpolarization may allow an increase in Ca2+ influx and thereby promote regrowth. 4. The axotomy-induced decrease in after-hyperpolarization duration may reflect the disconnection of the neurone with its target and the loss of available nerve growth factor (NGF) from the target. 5. Experiments with NGF antibodies provide evidence that an NGF-like substances serves to maintain the normal electrophysiological characteristics of amphibian sympathetic neurones.