Fate of axonally transported taurine and proteins in the developing rabbit visual system following optic nerve section

These experiments were performed to characterize the axonally transported taurine in the visual system of developing rabbits. [35S]Taurine, transported axonally after intravitreal injection, disappeared from the components of the visual system more rapidly after nerve section than it did with intact nerves. The decrease was most rapid in the youngest animals, and tended to be most pronounced in the elements nearest to the section (optic nerve, optic tract).3H-labeled proteins present in the visual system changed less markedly than [35S]taurine after nerve section; only in the youngest rabbits was there a marked decrease. These results suggest that a greater proportion of the intraaxonal taurine is labile in young rabbits than in mature rabbits.