Axonal degeneration in large and small nerve fibres: An electron-microscopic and morphometric study

Using computer-aided morphometric methods, axonal degeneration following nerve crush was analysed to reassess whether small fibres degenerate before large fibres or vice versa, or simultaneously. Axonal microtubule density was used as the criterion for determining the extent of fibre degeneration. A...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of the neurological sciences Vol. 67; no. 3; pp. 307 - 318
Main Authors Malbouisson, A.M.B., Ghabriel, M.N., Allt, G.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Shannon Elsevier B.V 01.01.1985
Elsevier Science
Subjects
Animals
Axonal degeneration
Axons - ultrastructure
Biological and medical sciences
Male
Medical sciences
Microscopy, Electron
Microtubules
Microtubules - ultrastructure
Morphometric analysis
Nerve Degeneration
Nervous system involvement in other diseases. Miscellaneous
Neurology
Peripheral Nerve Injuries
Rats
Rats, Inbred Strains
Microtubules
Axonal degeneration
Morphometric analysis
Peripheral nerve
Nervous system diseases
Rat
Rodentia
Axon
Electron microscopy
Trauma
Vertebrata
Experimental disease
Mammalia
Degeneration
Morphometry
Nerve fiber
Crush
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Summary:Using computer-aided morphometric methods, axonal degeneration following nerve crush was analysed to reassess whether small fibres degenerate before large fibres or vice versa, or simultaneously. Axonal microtubule density was used as the criterion for determining the extent of fibre degeneration. Axonal areas and axonal microtubule numbers were recorded from a large sample of myelinated fibres in the right unoperated rat sural nerve and distal to crush in the left sural nerve. Both samples were divided into small and large fibre groups, according to axonal areas. Statistical analysis of the data confirmed a significant loss of microtubules from the left crushed nerve fibres but no significant difference in the relative loss of microtubules from small and large fibres. It is concluded, therefore, that in Wallerian degeneration, axonal breakdown, as assessed by microtubule loss, occurs simultaneously in small and large fibres. The findings are related to the electrophysiological changes which occur in Wallerian degeneration.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-1
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
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ISSN:0022-510X
1878-5883
DOI:10.1016/0022-510X(85)90155-8