Retrograde axonal transport of antibodies to synaptic membrane components.

It is well known that several exogenous substances, including, for example, lectins, nerve growth factor and several toxins, are retrogradely transported in axons after selectively binding to molecules on the surface of the synaptic membrane. In the present study, we sought to determine if antibodies to components of the synaptic membrane are also retrogradely transported. Retrograde axonal transport of antibodies to the Con A-positive fraction of synaptic membranes was studied in the rat hypoglossal and facial nerves. After injection of antibodies into the tongue and facial muscles, labeled cells were present in the hypoglossal nucleus and facial nucleus, respectively. Injections of normal serum produced no labeling in either system.