Summary
Central nerve fibres of Pacinian corpuscles of the cat were examined by semiserial sections 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 9 days after sciatic nerve cut. Axons of the Pacinian corpuscles showed degenerative changes 4 days after transsection and the removal of axonal and myelin debris was almost completed within 9 days. Axonal degeneration was characterized by disintegration of filaments and tubules, disruption of axolemma, swelling of mitochondria and loss of filopod processes in the terminal axon. Selective preservation of filaments in local areas of terminal axons was found in some corpuscles. The myelinated portions of the nerve fibre were removed by Schwann cells and the unmyelinated terminal portions by inner core lamellar cells. Mitochondria and other degenerated axoplasmic organelles of the terminal axon formed dense bodies following their engulfment by lamellar cells. The unmyelinated portion of the axon was removed faster than the myelinated. The rate of removal of axonal debris varied along the length of both the unmyelinated and myelinated portions of the nerve fibre. Similarity in the behaviour and morphology of reactive lamellar and Schwann cells points to the possibility of the common derivation of these cells.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Berger, B. (1971) Étude ultrastructurale de la dégénérescence Wallerienne experimentale d'un nerf entièrement amyélinique: le nerf olfactif.Journal of Ultrastruaure Research 37, 105–18.
Birks, R., Katz, B. andMiledi, R. (1960) Physiological and structural changes at the amphibian myoneural junction in the course of nerve degeneration.Journal of Physiology (London) 150, 145–68.
Bots, G. Th. A. M. (1970) Pathology of nerves. InDiseases of Nerves, 7, (edited byVinken, P. J. andBruyn, G. W.) pp. 197–243. New York: Elsevier Press.
Bray, G. M., Peyronnard, J. M. andAguayo, A. J. (1972) Reactions of unmyelinated nerve fibers to injury. An ultrastructural study.Brain Research 42, 297–309.
Calabretta, A. M., Munger, B. L. andGraham, W. P. (1973) The ultrastructure of degenerating rat sciatic nerves.Journal of Surgical Research 14, 465–71.
Chouchkov, H. N. (1971a) Ultrastructure of Pacinian corpuscles in men and cats.Zeitschrift für Mikroskopisch-Anatomische Forschung 83, 17–32.
Chouchkov, H. N. (1971b) Ultrastructure of Pacinian corpuscles after the section of nerve fibres.Zeitschrift für Mikroskopisch-Anatomische Forschung 83, 33–46.
Cook, R. D., Ghetti, B. andWisniewski, H. M. (1974) The pattern of Wallerian degeneration in the optic nerve of newborn kittens: an ultrastructural study.Brain Research (in press).
Donat, J. R. andWisniewski, H. M. (1973) The spatio-temporal pattern of Wallerian degeneration in mammalian peripheral nerves.Brain Research 53, 41–53.
Dyck, P. J. andHopkins, A. P. (1972) Electron microscopic observation on degeneration and regeneration of unmyelinated fibres.Brain 95, 223–34.
Fischer, E. R. andTurano, A. (1963) Schwann cells in Wallerian degeneration.Archives of Pathology 75, 517–27.
Friede, R. L. andMartinez, A. J. (1970) Analysis of axon-sheath relations during early Wallerian degeneration.Brain Research 19, 199–212.
Gamble, H. J. andJha, B. D. (1958) Some effects of temperature upon the rate and progress of Wallerian degeneration in mammalian nerve fibres.Journal of Anatomy (London) 92, 171–7.
Hámori, J., Lang, E. andSimon, L. (1968) Experimental degeneration of the pre-ganglionic fibers in the superior cervical ganglion of the cat (EM).Zeitschrift für Zellforschung und Mikroskopische Anatomie 90, 37–52.
Honjin, R., Nakamura, T. andImura, M. (1959) Electron microscopy of peripheral nerve fibers. III. On the axoplasmic changes during Wallerian degeneration.Okajimas Folia Anatomica Japonica 33, 131–156.
Hunt, C. C. andNelson, P. G. (1965) Structural and functional changes in the frog sympathetic ganglion following cutting of the presynaptic nerve fibers.Journal of Physiology (London) 177, 1–20.
Iwayama, T. (1970) Ultrastructural changes in nerves innervating the cerebral artery after sympathectomy.Zeitschrift für Zellforschung und Mikroskopische Anatomic 109, 465–80.
Joseph, B. S. (1973) Somatofugal events in Wallerian degeneration: a conceptual overview.Brain Research 59, 1–18.
Joseph, B. S. andWhitlock, D. G. (1972) The spatio-temporal course of Wallerian degeneration within the CNS of toads (Bufo marinus) as defined by the Nauta silver method.Brain Behavior and Evolution 5, 1–17.
Knoche, H. andTerwort, H. (1973) Elektronenmikroskopischer Beitrag zur Kenntnis von Degenerationsformen der vegetativen Endstrecke nach Durchsneidung postganglionarer Fasern.Zeitschrift für Zellforschung und Mikroskopische Anatomie 141, 181–202.
Krishnamurti, A., Kanagasuntheram, R. andVij, S. (1973) Failure of reinnervation of Pacinian corpuscle after nerve crush.Acta Neuropathologica 23, 338–41.
Lee, J. C. Y. (1963) Electron microscopy of Wallerian degeneration.Journal of Comparative Neurology 120, 65–71.
Lissák, K., Dempsey, E. W. andRosenblueth, A. (1939) The failure of transmission of motor nerve impulses in the course of Wallerian degeneration.American Journal of Physiology 128, 45–56.
Miledi, R. andSlater, C. R. (1970) On the degeneration of rat neuromuscular junctions after nerve section.Journal of Physiology (London) 207, 507–28.
Nathaniel, E. J. H. andPease, D. C. (1963) Degenerative changes in rat dorsal roots during Wallerian degeneration.Journal of Ultrastructure Research 9, 511–32.
Nickel, E. andWaser, P. G. (1968) Elekronenmikroskopische Untersuchungen am Diaphragma der Maus nach einseitiger Phrenikotomie. I. Die degenerierende motorische Endplatte.Zeitschrift für Zellforschung und Mikroskopische Anatomie 88, 278–96.
Nischi, K., Oura, C. andPallie, W. (1969) Fine structure of Pacinian corpuscles in the mesentery of the cat.Journal of Cell Biology 43, 539–53.
Ohmi, S. (1961) Electron microscopic study on Wallerian degeneration of peripheral nerve.Zeitschrift für Zellforschung and Mikroskopische Anatomie 54, 39–67.
Pease, D. C. andQuilliam, T. A. (1957) Electron microscopy of the Pacinian corpuscle.Journal of Biophysical and Biochemical Cytology 3, 331–42.
Pecci Saavedra, J., Mascitti, T. A. andLloret, I. L. P. (1973) Increased rate of anterograde degeneration in the visual pathway of kittens.Brain Research 50, 265–74.
Polácek, P. andMazanec, K. (1966) Ultrastructure of mature Pacinian corpuscles from mesentery of adult cat.Zeitschrift für Mikroskopisch-Anatomische Forschung 75, 343–54.
Quilliam, T. A. (1966) Unit design and array patterns in receptor organs. InTouch, Heat and Pain, CIBA Foundation Symposium (edited byDe Reuck, A. V. S. andKnight, J.) pp. 86–112, Boston: Little, Brown & Co.
Quilliam, T. A. andSato, M. (1955) The distribution of myelin on nerve fibres from Pacinian corpuscles.Journal of Physiology (London) 129, 167–76.
Reger, J. F. (1959) Studies on the fine structure of normal and denervated neuromuscular junctions from mouse gastrocnemius.Journal of Ultrastructure Research 2, 269–82.
Roth, C. D. andRichardson, K. C. (1969) Electron microscopical studies on axonal degeneration in the rat iris following ganglionectomy.American Journal of Anatomy 124, 341–60.
Santini, M., Ibata, Y. andPappas, G. D. (1971) The fine structure of the sympathetic axons within the Pacinian corpuscle.Brain Research 33, 279–87.
Schaumburg, H. H., Wisniewski, H. M. andSpencer, P. S. (1974) Ultrastructural studies of the dying-back process. I. Peripheral nerve terminal and axon degeneration in systemic acrylamide intoxication.Journal of Neuropathology and Experimental Neurology (in press)
Shanthaveerappa, T. R. andBourne, G. H. (1963) New observations on the structure of the Pacinian corpuscle and its relation to the perineural epithelium of peripheral nerves.American Journal of Anatomy 112, 97–109.
Spencer, P. S. andSchaumburg, H. H. (1973) An ultrastructural study of the inner core of the Pacinian corpuscle.Journal of Neurocytology 2, 217–35.
Taxi, J. (1959) Étude au microscope électronique de la dégénérescence Wallerienne des fibres nerveuses amyéliniques.Comptes Rendus de l'Academie des Sciences (Paris) 248, 2796–8.
Terry, R. D. andHarkin, J. C. (1959) Wallerian degeneration and regeneration of peripheral nerves. InThe Biology of Myelin (edited byKorey, S. A.) pp. 303–20, New York: Harper (Hoeber).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
A preliminary report of this study was presented at the 49th Annual Meeting of the American Association of Neuropathologists, 17 June 1973, Freeport, Bahamas.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Korthals, J.K., Wisniewski, H.M., Ghetti, B. et al. The fate of the axon and its terminal in the Pacinian corpuscle following sciatic nerve section. J Neurocytol 3, 385–403 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01097920
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01097920