Decreased metabolism of cerebrosides and sulfatides in rat sciatic nerve after intraneural injection of colchicine.

To obtain an understanding of the importance of the neuronal cytoskeleton in Schwann cell metabolism, an antimicrotubular agent (colchicine) was injected into the rat sciatic nerve 24 or 48 h before incubation of the nerve with labeled precursor: [35S]sulfate, [14C]galactose, or [3H]-galactose. Colchicine inhibited the incorporation of 35S radioactivity into sulfatides and, to a lesser extent, into proteins. With galactose as the radioactive precursor, synthesis of cerebrosides was reduced by colchicine injection, whereas incorporation of radioactivity into phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylcholine increased. Intraneural injection of lumicolchicine had no effect. The effects of colchicine on the metabolism of the Schwann cell are discussed in relation to its action on microtubules.