SYNAPTIC PROTEINS AND AXONAL FLOW IN THE PIGEON VISUAL PATHWAY ¹

Abstract

Abstract— The protein supply of the synaptic ending by its nerve cell body has been studied in the retino‐tectal system of the pigeon. [3H]Leucine was injected into the vitreous humor of one eye and the protein specific activity was determined for subcellular fractions of the retina and optic lobes and for the optic tracts. The results show that the perikaryon supplies newly synthesized proteins to its terminals. Two main waves of labelled macromolecules could be distinguished: one, migrating at a speed of 40 mm/day or more, is directly destined for the synaptic ending while the other, progressing at a rate of 1 mm/day, distributes along the entire axon.