Journal of Neurocytology

, Volume 9, Issue 2, pp 185–205 | Cite as

The localization of sodium and calcium to Schwann cell paranodal loops at nodes of Ranvier and of calcium to compact myelin

  • Mark H. Ellisman
  • Peter L. Friedman
  • W. J. Hamilton
Article
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Accepted:

Summary

High-voltage electron microscopy (HVEM) has been used to determine the distribution of cationic precipitates in myelinated axons resulting from the application of two cytochemical techniques: a direct osmium pyroantimonate treatment for precipitating Na+, Ca2+ and Mg2+; and a 5 mM Ca2+ inclusion procedure (Oschman & Wall) for imparting electron density to Ca2+ binding sites. Electron probe wavelength spectroscopy was then used on semi-thick tissue sections to identify the species of ions present in the following regions: Schwann cell paranodal loops, axoplasm at the node, compact myelin and extracellular matrix. With these combined procedures we were able to localize elevated concentrations of both Na+ and Ca2+ to cytoplasmic compartments of the Schwann cell paranodal loops, as well as to detect the presence of Ca2+ at elevated levels in compact myelin. The involvement of the Schwann cell paranodal loops in providing a source and/or sink for Na+ involved in impulse conduction is suggested by these results, and the significance of such a role is discussed. A role for Ca2+ in the formation and stabilization of myelin lamellae is also suggested.

Keywords

Sodium Calcium Extracellular Matrix Elevated Level Tissue Section 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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Copyright information

© Chapman and Hall Ltd 1980

Authors and Affiliations

  • Mark H. Ellisman
    • 1
    • 2
  • Peter L. Friedman
    • 1
    • 2
  • W. J. Hamilton
    • 3
  1. 1.Department of NeurosciencesUniversity of CaliforniaSan Diego
  2. 2.School of MedicineLa JollaUSA
  3. 3.Applied Research LaboratoriesHasler Applications LaboratorySunlandUSA

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