Lidocaine Inhibition of Rapid Axonal Transport

Abstract

The effect of lidocaine hydrochloride on rapid axonal transport of protein in the rabbit vagus nerve has been studied in vitro. The study shows that 1) the rabbit vagus nerve, after labeling of its efferent nuclei by intracerebral injection of tritiated leucine, behaves in vitro as it does in vitro with regard to rapid axoplasmic transport; 2) 0.1–0.6 per cent lidocaine significantly depresses the rate of rapid transport of protein in these nerves; 3) the amount of inhibition is directly related to both concentration and length of treatment; 4) the inhibition of axoplasmic transport by 0.6 per cent lidocaine can be reversed by washing the nerves, if the treatment times are less than 60 minutes; 5) nerves treated with 0.6 per cent lidocaine for 90 minutes are almost completely lacking both axonal and Schwann cell microtubules.