Summary
Sciatic nerves from rats were examined electron microscopically following fixation in 4 % tannic acid in 2.5 % glutaraldehyde, which allowed demonstration of a filamentous network between the usual intra-axonal organelles. The network appears to consist of longitudinal 10 nm in diameter filaments and cross-linking filaments of about 6 nm diameter. Exposure to cold caused disruption of microtubules, but not the filaments, and incubation at 37°C following cold exposure resulted in reformation of the microtubules which again showed linking with the filaments. Exposure of the nerves to cold in the presence of D2O did not cause disruption of the microtubules but there did appear to be some loss of the fine filaments. These findings suggest that the finer cross-linking filaments are of a different nature than the longitudinal 10 nm filaments, and that there is a dynamic relationship between these filaments and microtubules since the cross-linkages reappear following microtubule disruption and reformation.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Burnside, B.: The form and arrangement of microtubules; an historical, primarily morphological review. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 253, 14–24 (1975)
Burton, P.R., Fernandez, H.L.: Delineation of lanthanum staining of filamentous elements associated with the surfaces of axonal microtubules. J. Cell Sci. 12, 567–583 (1973)
Fernandez, H.L., Burton, P.R., Samson, F.E.: Axoplasmic transport in the crayfish nerve cord. The role of fibrillar constituents of neurones. J. Cell Biol. 51, 176–192 (1971)
Futaesaku, Y., Mizuhira, V., Nakamura, H.: A new fixation method using tannic acid for electron microscopy and some observations on biological specimens. Proc. Int. Congr. Histochem. & Cytochem. 4, 155–158 (1972)
Le Beux, Y.J.: An ultrastructural study of synaptic densities, nematosomes, neurotubules, neurofilaments and of a further three-dimensional filamentous network as disclosed by the E-PTA staining procedure. Z. Zellforsch, mikr. Anat. 143, 239–272 (1973)
Le Beux, Y.J., Willemott, J.: An ultrastructural study of the microfilaments in rat brain by means of heavy mesomyosin labeling. I. The perikaryon, the dendrites and the axon. Cell Tissue Res. 160, 1–36 (1975)
Livingston, A.: Microtubules in neurosecretory neurones of the posterior pituitary of the rat. Cell Tissue Res. 180, 253–261 (1977a)
Livingston, A.: Microtubules in myelinated and unmyelinated axons of rat sciatic nerve. Cell Tissue Res. 182, 401–407 (1977b)
Marsland, D.A., Zimmerman, A.M.: Structural stabilization of the mitotic apparatus by heavy water in the cleaving eggs of Arbacia punctulata. Exp. Cell Res. 38, 306–313 (1965)
Metuzals, J., Mushynski, W.E.: Electron microscope and experimental investigations of the neurofilamentous network in Deiters' neurons. J. Cell Biol. 61, 701–722 (1974)
Porter, K.R., Tilney, L.G.: Studies on the microtubules of Heliozoa. II. The effect of low temperature on these structures in the formation and maintenance of the axopodia. J. Cell Biol. 34, 327–343 (1967)
Samson, F.E.: Mechanism of axoplasmic transport. J. Neurobiol. 2, 347–360 (1971)
Tilney, L.G., Bryan, J., Bush, D.J., Fujiwara, K., Mooseker, M.S., Murphy, D.B., Snyder, D.H.: Microtubules, evidence for 13 protofilaments. J. Cell Biol. 59, 267–275 (1973)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Livingston, A. The internal structure of axons from rat sciatic nerve. Cell Tissue Res. 195, 341–348 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00236730
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00236730