Summary
Myelin formation in cultures of previously dissociated spinal cord from foetal mice is described. In addition to the expected pattern of myelination, in which axons are closely wrapped by myelin lamellae, redundant folds of myelin have been found, as have double sheaths surrounding a single axon. Hypotheses concerning the generation of these appearances are discussed. It is suggested that certain intracytoplasmic laminar bodies found in oligodendrocytes in vitro may be of mitochondrial origin.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bird, M. M., James, D. W.: The development of synaptic profiles between previously dissociated spinal cord cells in vitro. Z. Zellforsch. 140, 202–216 (1973)
Blinzinger, K., Anzil, A. P., Müller, W.: Myelinated nerve cell perikaryon in mouse spinal cord. Z. Zellforsch. 128, 135–138 (1972)
Bornstein, M. B., Model, P. G.: Development of synapses and myelin in cultures of embryonic mouse spinal cord, medulla and cerebellum. Brain Res. 37, 287–293 (1972)
Bornstein, M. B., Murray, M. R.: Serial observations on patterns of growth, myelin formation, maintenance and degeneration in cultures of new-born rat and kitten cerebellum. J. biophys. biochem. Cytol. 4, 499–504 (1958)
Heath, J. W.: Ultrastructural studies of the effects of chronic guanethidine treatment on sympathetic neurons. Ph.D. Thesis, Department of Zoology, University of Melbourne, Australia (1975)
Hild, W.: Myelogenesis in cultures of mammalian central nervous tissue. Z. Zellforsch. 46, 71–95 (1957)
Hirano, A., Zimmerman, H. M., Levine, S.: Myelin in the central nervous system as observed in experimentally induced oedema in the rat. J. Cell Biol. 81, 397–411 (1966)
Jacobs, J. M., Cavanagh, J. B.: Aggregations of filaments in Schwann cells of spinal roots of the normal rat. J. Neurocytol. 1, 161–167 (1972)
Kemali, M.: An ultrastructural analysis of myelin in the central nervous system of an amphibian. Cell Tiss. Res. 152, 51–67 (1974)
Kerr, W. L. K.: The ultrastructure of the spinal tract of the trigeminal nerve and the substantia gelatinosa. Exp. Neurol. 16, 359–376 (1966)
Kim, S. U.: Formation of synapses and myelin sheaths in cultures of dissociated chick embryonic spinal cord. Exp. Cell Res. 73, 528–530 (1972)
Kim, S. V., Tanaka, Y.: Myelinated neuronal soma in organised tissue culture of mouse central nervous tissue. Exp. Neurol. 30, 190–193 (1971)
Lampert, P. W., Cressman, M. R.: Pine structural changes of myelin sheaths after axonal degeneration in the spinal cord of rats. Amer. J. Path. 49, 1139–1156 (1966)
Lodin, S., Faltin, F., Booker, J., Hartman, J., Sensenbrenner, M.: Fibre formation and myelination of cultivated dissociated neurons from chick dorsal root ganglia. Neurobiol. 3, 66–87 (1973)
Luse, S. A.: Formation of myelin in the central nervous system of mice and rats, as studied with the electron microscope. J. biophys. biochem. Cytol. 2, 777–784 (1956)
Mathews, M. A., Duncan, D.: A quantitative study of morphological changes accompanying the initiation and progress of myelin production in the dorsal funiculus of the rat spinal cord. J. comp. Neurol. 142, 1–22 (1971)
Périer, O.: Formation et comportement de la myéline in vitro en rapport avec les maladies démyélinisantes. Acta neurol. belg. 6, 747–749 (1959)
Peterson, E. R., Murray, M. R.: Myelin sheath formation in cultures of avian spinal ganglia. Amer. J. Anat. 96, 319–356 (1955)
Rosenbluth, J.: The fine structure of acoustic ganglia in the rat. J. Cell Biol. 12, 329–359 (1962)
Rosenbluth, J.: Redundant myelin sheaths and other ultrastructural features of the toad cerebellum. J. Cell Biol. 28, 73–93 (1966)
Rosenbluth, J., Palay, S. L.: The fine structure of nerve cell bodies and their myelin sheaths in the eight nerve ganglion of the goldfish. J. biophys. biochem. Cytol. 9, 853–877 (1961)
Schultz, M. S., Hilding, D. A.: Nerve fibre growth and myelination in Von Recklinghausen eight nerve tumour tissue. J. Neuropath. exp. Neurol. 29, 105–118 (1970)
Schultz, R. L., Pease, D. C.: Cicatrix formation in rat cerebral cortex as revealed by electron microscopy. Amer. J. Path. 35, 1017–1042 (1959)
Seeds, N. W., Vatter, A. E.: Synaptogenesis in reaggregating cell cultures. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.) 68, 3219–3222 (1971)
Suyeoka, O.: Small myelinated perikarya in the cerebellar granular layer of mammals including man. Experientia (Basel) 24, 472–473 (1968)
Vaughn, J. E., Hinds, P. C., Skoff, R. P.: Electron microscope studies of Wallerian degeneration in rat optic nerve. J. comp. Neurol. 140, 175–206 (1970)
Webster, H. de F.: The geometry of peripheral myelin sheaths during their formation and growth in rat sciatic nerves. J. Cell Biol. 48, 348–367 (1971)
Wisniewsky, H., Terry, R. D., Hirano, A.: Neurofibrillary pathology. J. Neuropath. exp. Neurol. 29, 163–176 (1970)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
The authors wish to thank Mr. Derek Fraser, B.Sc., and Mr. Peter Felton for technical assistance, and Mr. Stuart Waterman for the photographic prints.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bird, M., James, D.W. Myelin formation in cultures of previously dissociated mouse spinal cord. Cell Tissue Res. 162, 93–105 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00223265
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00223265