Summary
The effects of vinblastine and colchicine on monoamine neurons has been studied by a histochemical fluorescence method. The results obtained indicate that both substances, when applied locally to adrenergic nerves, cause an inhibition in the proximo-distal transport of amine granules. These effects are discussed in relation to the destroying effects of the substances on the axonal microtubules. The effective concentrations were lower for vinblastine (10-3–10-4 M) than for colchicine (0.05 M) and it is suggested that this effect of the drugs to inhibit granule transport may be due to their microtubule disrupting effect. The low pH of vinblastine solutions is probably not involved in this effect, since isotonic-citrate-buffer solutions of the same pH had no observable effect on granule transport.
Application of vinblastine to ganglia in concentrations high enough to cause a marked inhibition of amine granule transport, resulted in degeneration of the nerve terminals.
Also the bulbo-spinal NA and 5-HT neurons were effected by the mitosis inhibitors. This may indicate that also in the CNS the transport of amine granules in NA and 5-HT systems, may be related to microtubules.
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Dahlström, A. (1971). Effects of Vinblastine and Colchicine on Monoamine Containing Neurons of the Rat, with Special Regard to the Axoplasmic Transport of Amine Granules. In: Friede, R.L., Seitelberger, F. (eds) Symposium on Pathology of Axons and Axonal Flow. Acta Neuropathologica / Supplementum, vol 5. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-47449-1_28
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