Axonal regeneration is compromised in NFH-LacZ transgenic mice but not in NFH-GFP mice.

To investigate neurofilament (NF) dynamics during the cytoskeleton reorganization in regenerating axons, and their electrophysiological and histological consequences, we used two transgenic lines of mice: neurofilament high (NFH)-LacZ and NFH-green fluorescent protein (GFP). In NFH-LacZ mice, NFs are retained in cell bodies and deficient in axons (Eyer and Peterson, 1994), while in NFH-GFP mice the fluorescent fusion protein is normally transported along axons (Letournel et al., 2006). Following a crush of the sciatic nerve, conduction recovery in NFH-GFP mice is similar to wild-type (wt) mice, but it is reduced in NFH-LacZ mice. Moreover, changes of axonal calibres following regeneration are similar between NFH-GFP and wt mice, but they are systematically reduced in NFH-LacZ mice. Finally, the axonal transport of NFH-GFP fusion protein and NFs is re-initiated after the crush as evidenced by the fluorescent and immunolabelling of axons distal from the crushed point, but NFs and the fusion protein are not transported along axons during regeneration in NFH-LacZ mice. Together, these results argue that the absence of axonal NFs in NFH-LacZ mice compromises the axonal regeneration, and that the NFH-GFP reporter fusion protein represents an efficient model to evaluate the NF dynamics during axonal regeneration.

Drug release from MCC- and carrageenan-based pellets: experiment and theory.

Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) is a well-established pelletisation aid. However, MCC pellets generally do not disintegrate, resulting in prolonged drug release, especially in the case of drugs with poor/low aqueous solubility. The major objectives of this study were (i) to modify the prolonged matrix-type drug release from MCC pellets by addition of a disintegrant (croscarmellose Na) or pore former (PEG 6000), (ii) to evaluate carrageenan as potential alternative pelletisation aid for manufacturing high-dose immediate release pellets, and (iii) to better understand the underlying drug release mechanisms. Pellets containing 77-90% drug with poor/low aqueous solubility (vatalanib succinate, SAG/ZK, or theophylline) were prepared by extrusion-spheronisation. All batches showed acceptable yields, aspect ratios, tensile strengths, and porosities. Drug release from MCC pellets was predominantly controlled by pure diffusion and limited drug solubility and could be quantitatively described using Fick's law. Importantly, the apparent drug diffusivity could effectively be adjusted by adding small amounts of a disintegrant or pore former, allowing for release periods ranging from a few minutes to several hours. The drug diffusion coefficients varied between 0.36 and 29 x 10(-6)cm(2)/s. In contrast, carrageenan-based pellets very rapidly disintegrated upon contact with aqueous media and released high doses of drugs with poor/low aqueous solubility within a few minutes.