"Dying back" above a nerve ligature produced by acrylamide.

The application of a tight ligature around a nerve before daily administration of acrylamide (40 or 50 mg/kg) for 4 or 5 days leads to ascending degeneration of the injured nerves, the number of affected fibres and the degree of "dying back" being dependent on the dose of acrylamide given. The same response occurs whether acrylamide is given immediately after nerve ligation or 1 week later. Centripetal degeneration follows after a short delay period and is maximal at about 10 days after beginning acrylamide injections. The response is not found with INH, with misonidazole or with 2,5-hexanedione.