Arrays of glycogen granules in the axoplasm of peripheral nerves at pre-ovoid stages of wallerian degeneration

Summary

Phrenic and sciatic nerves of the rat were examined during the initial stages of Wallerian degeneration 4–48 h after axotomy about 5 mm below the level of transection. One of the first changes observed in transected axons was the appearance of glycogen granules and formation of clusters of particulate glycogen at the Schmidt-Lantermann incisures and at the nodes of Ranvier. Four hours after transection, glycogen granules were found at these sites mainly attached to the tubules of axoplasmic reticulum or dispersed in small clusters in the axoplasm. At later stages, glycogen particles increased in number and formed elongated clusters arrayed mostly longitudinally among axonal organelles filling stretches of axons about 2 μm long adjacent to the incisures and in nodal regions. The buld-up of glycogen clusters reached a peak at 22 h after axotomy, when longitudinal arrays of glycogen particles were found at about 70% of the incisures and nodes examined. The percentage of these sites containing glycogen clusters had already decreased 26 h after axotomy. When axonal degeneration advanced and axons contained only floculated material and swollen mitochondria, glycogen granules also disintegrated. It is of interest that glycogen particles accumulate in those regions of the internode where the axon will soon become disrupted during ovoid formation. The possible mechanisms leading to glycogen accumulation at these sites are discussed in relation to the active role of Schwann cells in Wallerian degeneration.