Selective inhibition of retrograde axonal transport by erythro-9-[3-(2-hydroxynonyl)]adenine.

Retrograde transport of microscopically visible organelles in isolated lobster axons was selectively inhibited by erythro-9-[3-(2-hydroxynonyl)]adenine (EHNA), with little or no effect on anterograde transport. The retrograde velocity was reduced both in living axons and in permeabilized axons in which movement was reactivated with exogenous ATP. This is the first report of an agent that selectively inhibits axonal transport in one direction.