Chemical studies of peripheral nerve during Wallerian degeneration. 5. β-Glucuronidase

Abstract

The beta-glucuronidase activity of the sciatic nerve of the cat increased greatly after either nerve section or nerve crush. After nerve section the increase was statistically significant after 4 days (138%) and reached a max. at 16 days (3400%). Thereafter it fell steadily. After nerve crush the beta-glucuronidase activity did not differ significantly from that observed after nerve section for the first 96 days. Even after 600 days the activity in the crushed nerves was significantly greater than that in the control nerves. The beta-glucuronidase activity/cell, calculated on the desoxypentose-nucleic acid, increased to a max. (1120%) at 16 days after nerve section, while the peak in cellular proliferation was at 4 days.