• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.175-182
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• 2015

Previous studies suggested that myelinated axons innervating rat molar pulps undergo morphological changes in their peripheral course. However, little information is available on the morphological feature of the parent axons at the site of origin. We therefore investigated the size of the myelinated parent axons and their morphological features at the proximal sensory root of the trigeminal ganglion by horseradish peroxidase (HRP) injection into rat upper molar pulps and subsequent light and electron microscopy. A total of 248 HRP-labeled myelinated axons investigated were highly variable in the size. Fiber area, fiber diameter, axon area (axoplasm area), axon diameter (axoplasm diameter), and myelin thickness were $11.32{\pm}8.36{\mu}m^2(0.80{\sim}53.17{\mu}m^2)$, $3.99{\pm}1.53{\mu}m(1.08{\sim}9.26{\mu}m)$, $8.70{\pm}6.30{\mu}m^2(0.70{\sim}41.83{\mu}m^2)$, $3.13{\pm}1.13{\mu}m(0.94{\sim}7.20{\mu}m)$ and $0.43{\pm}0.23{\mu}m(0.07{\sim}1.06{\mu}m)$, respectively. The g-ratio (axon diameter / fiber diameter) of the labeled axons was $0.79{\pm}0.05$ (0.61~0.91). Axon diameter was highly correlated with myelin thickness (correlation coefficients, r=0.83) but little correlated with g-ratio (r=-0.33) of individual myelinated parent axons. These results indicate that myelin thickness of the myelinated parent axons innervating rat molar pulps increase with increasing axon diameter, thus maintaining a constant g-ratio.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.360-365
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• 2010

Introduction: Mammalian tooth pulp is densely innervated by sensory nerves that are mostly C fibers and A delta fibers. However, there is evidence suggesting that many unmyelinated axons in the pulp are in fact parent meylinated axons. Immunohistochemical staining for neurofilament protein 200 kDa (NFP200) was performed to identify the demyelinated but parent myelinated axons. Materials and Methods: The pulp was removed from healthy premolars and 3rd molars extracted from juveniles and adults undergoing orthodontic treatment, and immunohistochemical staining were applied with NPF200 antibodies, which specifically dye myelinated axons. The specimens underwent an electron microscopy examination with diaminobenzidine (DAB) immunostaining after observation and analysis by fluorescence and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Results: The NPF200 immuno-positive axons in the radicular pulp areas were observed as bundles of many nerve fibers. Many small bundles were formed with fewer axons when firing to the coronal pulp areas and then reachrd a different direction. In the radicular pulp, unmyelinated axons and myelinated axons were present together. However, in the coronal pulp, unmyelinated axons were most common and NFP200 immuno-positive unmyelinated axons with a larger diameter than those in the radicular pulp were observed more frequently. On the other hand, most of the immuno-positive unmyelinated fibers were similar in size to that of typically well-known unmyelinated fibers. Conclusion: Myelinated fibers innervated to the dental pulp maintain their myelins in the radicular portion, but these fibers lost myelins in the coronal portion. After the loss of myelin, the size of the axoplasm also decreased.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.3-12
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• 2017

Using threshold tracking, differences have been established between large myelinated sensory and ${\alpha}$ motor axons in humans. Major differences are that sensory axons are relatively depolarised at rest such that they have a greater persistent $Na^+$ current, and have greater activity of hyperpolarisation-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channels. Sensory axons may thereby be protected from hyperpolarising stresses, and are less likely to develop conduction block. However, the corollary is that sensory axons are more excitable and more likely to become ectopically active.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.107-123
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• 1993

The ultrastructural changes of the cardiac ganglion and granule-containing cells in the heart of vacor-induced diabetic Mongolian gerbils were studied by electron microscopy. After one month of vacor-induced diabetes the ganglion cells showed increase in numbers of dense bodies and mitochondria compared with the normal cardiac ganglion. Most of the satellite cells were filled with numerous phagosomes containing digested debris. Both electron-dense and lucent types of degenerating axon terminals were observed. The former was characterized by clusters of agranular vesicles and numerous mitochondria. The electron lucent type of degenerating axon terminal contained a few agranular vesicles and swollen mitochondria. Degenerating unmyelinated and myelinated axons contained large numbers of dense bodies, lamellar bodies, and mitochondria. Numerous macrophages containing phagosomes were reveled in the interstitial spaces. Some of the granule-containing cells in the heart showed a variety of degenerative changes and a decreased number of dense-cored vesicles. After three months of vacor-induced diabetes the unmyelinated and myelinated axons showed degenerative changes, whereas no structure changes could be demonstrated in intraatrial ganglion and granule containing cells. The satellite cells containing engulfed debris were observed in the cardiac ganglion cells. These results suggest that the degenerative changes occur in the cardiac ganglion cells of vacor-induced diabetic Mongolian gerbils as well as atrial granule-containing cells.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.29-38
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• 1997

A peripheral nerve when approximation of the ends imparts tension at the anastomosis and with a relatively long segment defect after excision of neuroma and neurofibroma cannnot be repaired by early primary suture. The one of the optimistic reconstruction method of severed peripheral nerves is to restore tension-free continuity at the repair site putting an autogenous nerve graft into the neural gap despite of ancipating motor or sensory deficit of the donor nerve area. To overcome the deficit of the autogenous nerve graft, several other conduits supplying a metabolically active environment which is able to support axon regeneration and progression, providing protection against scar invasion, and guiding the regrowing axons to the distal stump of the nerve have been studied. An author have used ipsilateral femoral vein, ipsilateral femoral vein filled with fresh thigh muscle, and autogenous sciatic nerve for the sciatic nerve defect of around 10 mm in length to observe the regeneration pattern in rat by light and electron microscopy. The results were as follows. 1. Light microscopically regeneration pattern of nerve fibers in the autogenous graft group was more abundant than vein graft and vein filled with muscle group. 2. On ultrastructural findings, the proxial end of the graft in various groups showed similar regenerating features of the axons, myelin sheaths, and Schwann cells. The fascicular arrangement of the myelinated and unmyelinated fibers was same regardless of the type of conduits. There were more or less increasing tendency in the number and the diameter of myelinated fibers correlated with the regeneration time. 3. In the middle of the graft, myelinated nerve fibers of vein filled with muscle group were more in number and myelin sheath was thinner than in the venous graft, but the number of regenerating axons in autogenous nerve graft was superior to that in both groups of the graft. The amount of collagen fibrils and amorphous materials in the endoneurial space was increased to elapsed time. 4. There was no difference in regenerating patterns of the nerve fibers of distal end of the graft. The size and shape of the myelinated nerve fbers were more different than that of proximal and middle portion of the graft. From the above results, the degree of myelination and regenerating activity in autogenous nerve is more effective and active in other types of the graft and there were no morphological differences in either ends of the graft regardless of regeneration time.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.316-321
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• 2002

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of Ga-As(Gallium-Arsenide, wave length; 904 nm) infrared laser irradiation on healing of the experimentally crush injured rat sciatic nerves. The bilateral sciatic nerves of 43 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were compressed surgically with a straight hemostat (1 mm width). The right legs of all the rats were irradiated using a 27 mW Ga-As infrared laser (laser irradiated group). The radiation procedure was administered for 3 minutes every day for 1, 3, 5, and 7 weeks in each group. Left legs were not irradiated and served as the control group. The numbers of total myelinated axon and degenerated myelin in the sciatic nerves of bilateral legs were measured and analyzed with mage analysis system in order to make a morphological analysis of the effect of the Ga-As infrared laser on injured nerves. Total number of myelinated axons was increased with time interval, especially in the 1, 3. and 5 week of irradiated group. Conversely, the number of degenerated myelin was decreased with time interval, especially in the irradiated group. The effects in the irradiated group were more pronounced than those of the control group. In conclusion, the Ga-As infrared laser irradiation is a useful adjuvant therapy to the regeneration of the peripheral nerve injury.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.30-47
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• 1995

The ultrastructural changes of adrenal chromaffin cells and ganglion cells in the adrenal gland of vacor-induced diabetic Mongolian gerbils were studied by electron microscopy. After one month of vacor-induced diabetes, some chromaffin cells were filled with dense bodies and large cytosomes with formy contents. Most of degenerating axon terminals were observed on chromaffin cells. A few macrophages were found among chromaffin cells at one month after induction. Several of these macrophages were filled with numerous phagosomes. After one month of vacor-induced diabetes, the ganglion cells showed increase in numbers of dense bodies and degenerating dendrites compared with the normal ganglion cells. Both electron dense and lucent types of degenerating axon terminals were found in interstitial space of the ganglion cells. Degenerating unmyelinated and myelinted axons contained dense and lamellar bodies. The satellite cells and macrophages with engulfed degenerated axon terminals were observed. After three months of vacor-induced diabetes, the unmyelinated and myelinated axons showed degenerative changes, whereas no structural changes could be demonstrated in adrenal ganglion and chromaffin cells. The satellite cells and macrophages containing partially digested debris were still commonly observed in the interstitial space of adrenal medulla. These results suggest that the degenerative changes occur in the adrenal ganglion cells as well as adrenal chromaffin cells of vacor-induced diabetic Mongolian gerbils.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.279-284
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• 2007

Purpose: The vein graft was considered as a useful conduit for nerve defect. But the problem is that it might be collapsed in long vein graft state. A new experimental model using vein graft filled with hyaluronic acid was considered. Methods: Thirty rats were used for the experimental animal. In group I, one side of the femoral nerve was exposed and a segment was removed about 15mm. The neural gap was connected with nerve graft. In group II, the nerve gap was connected with vein graft only. In group III, the nerve gap was connected with vein graft filled with hyaluronic acid. A walking track analysis was made periodically for 2 months and NCV(nerve conduction velocity) was executed at the end of the experiment. And morphologic studies were also done for all groups Results: In a walking track analysis, the toe-spread was widen and the foot-length was lengthened. The recovery of the toe-spread and foot length was checked 2 weeks interval, periodically for two months. The SFI (sciatic function index) was $-52.5{\pm}8.2$ in group I, $-68.1{\pm}4$ in group II, $-55.3{\pm}7.9$ in group III. In electrophysiological study, NCV(nerve conduction velocity) was $26.71{\pm}3.11m/s$ in group I, $17.94{\pm}4.35m/s$ in group II, $25.69{\pm}2.81m/s$ in group III. The functional recovery in group I and III was superior to that the group II statistically(p < 0.05) Under electromicroscopic study, the number of the myelinated axons were $1419.1{\pm}240$ in group I, $921.7{\pm}176.8$ in group II, $1322.2{\pm}318$ in group III. The number of the myelinated axons were much more in group I and III than group II statistically (p<0.05). Conclusion: This study suggested that the vein graft filled with hyaluronic acid is more effective than vein graft only for the conduit of the nerve gap. It was thought that the technique could be used in clinical cases with nerve defects as an alternative method to classical nerve grafts.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.53-66
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• 1978

An attempt has been made to discriminate the synapses in the striatum consisting caudate nucleus, putamen and fundus striati of the cat with emphasis on the characteristic structures of axon terminals and postsynaptic profiles. The differentiation is based on the size and shape of vesicle in the bouton terminal, and the symmetrical or asymmetrical thickening the pre- and postsynaptic membrane. Four types of synapses could be differentiated: Type I: the bontons with asymmetrical,synaptic thickenings contain round 45 nm diameter vesicles and contact cell soma, dendritic shafts and dendritic spines (74%). Type II : the boutons contain round 45nm diameter vesicles and are associated with symmetrical membrane thickenings. These synapses are formed on the soma and dendritic shafts (6%). Type III: the boutons with symmetrical membrane thickenings contain 50-60 nm diameter pleomorphic vesicles, and contact soma and dendritic shafts (18%). Type IV: the terminals contain flattened vesicles ($25{\times}45 nm$) and are associated with symmetrical membrane thickenings. These synapses are found in contact with soma and dendritic shafts. Additionally, the bouton en passant, which is expanded from myelinated or unmyelinated axons containing round vesicles (45nm diameter) contacts the dendritic shaft or dendritic spine with asymmetrical membrane thickenings. Two unusual types of synapses, axo-axonic and dendro-dendritic, are found occasionally.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 1995

The purpose of this study was to investigate the main sensory trigeminal nucleus in the aging rat brain by means of electron microscope. Male Sprague-Dawley rats, two (control group) and thirty six (aging group) months of age, were used. These animals were sacrificed by perfusion fixation with 2.5% glutaraldehyde-2.0% paraformaldehyde (0.1M phosphate buffer, pH 7.4) under sodium pentobarbital. The objective area was punched out with a sharp-edged metal cylinder of 0.8 mm in diameter. These blocks of tissue were then washed in 0.1M phosphate buffer, postfixed in 2% osmium tetroxide, dehydrated in a graded series of ethyl alcohol, and embedded in Epon 812. Thin sections were cut with Super Nova ultramicrotome, pick up on grids and double stained with lead citrate and uranyl acetate, and observed in JEOL 100B electron microscope. The results were as follows: 1. In the control group, the neuronal cell body of the main sensory trigeminal nucleus was filled with nucleus, Golgi complex, Nissl substance, mitochondria, microfilaments and microtubules. However, few Nissl substances are seen in neuronal cell body. Axoaxonic synapse, axodendritic synapse, axosomatic synapse, axospinous synapse, myelinated and unmyelinated nerve fibers were well organized around cell bodies. Neurons with abnormal changes were not seen. 2. In the aging group, the neuronal cell body of the main sensory trigeminal nucleus contained large number of lipofuscin granules, dense body and swollen mitochondria. Terminal boutons contained glycogen, crystal-like vesicle and membranous indicating first signs of degeneration. The dendrites were found to be in synaptic contact with altered axon terminals. Frequently axons filled with dark axoplasn and splitted myelin sheath were noticed.