Wallerian degeneration (WD) is the set of molecular and cellular events by which degenerating axons and myelin are cleared after injury. Why WD is rapid and robust in the PNS but slow and incomplete in the CNS is a longstanding mystery. Here we review current work on the mechanisms of WD with an emphasis on deciphering this mystery and on understanding whether slow WD in the CNS could account for the failure of CNS axons to regenerate.

中文翻译：

---

为什么中枢神经系统的Wallerian变性如此缓慢？

瓦勒变性（WD）是分子和细胞事件的集合，通过这些事件，损伤后的轴突和髓鞘变性得以清除。为什么WD在PNS中既快速又健壮，而在CNS中却又缓慢又不完整，是一个长期的谜。在这里，我们回顾了有关WD机理的当前工作，重点在于破译这一谜团，并着重了解中枢神经系统中缓慢的WD是否可以解释中枢神经系统轴突再生失败的原因。