Arachidonic Acid Derivatives and Their Role in Peripheral Nerve Degeneration and Regeneration

Figure 1

Proposed theoretical framework. After nerve injury, AA derivatives produced in neurons and microglia participate in nerve degeneration and regeneration, through local, remote, and molecular pathways. Injury promotes SC infiltration and activation as well as phospholipase, COX and LOX upregulation with the ensuing production of eicosanoids. These signals promote degeneration initially and later regulate the regenerative process. NRAGs are in turn heavily influenced by these signals. SC: Schwann cell; NRAGs: nerve regeneration associated genes; LOX: lipooxygenases; COX: cyclooxygenases.