Redistribution of Schwann cells at the developing PNS–CNS borderline. An ultrastructural and autoradiographic study on the S1 dorsal root of the cat

Abstract

In order to test our hypothesis that myelin-forming Schwann cells early during development, after having been eliminated from their parent axons, colonize neighbouring unmyelinated axons, we studied the distribution of Schwann cells at the PNS–CNS border in the feline S1 dorsal spinal root during pre- and postnatal development using electron microscopy and autoradiography. Myelination of axons peripheral to the PNS–CNS border began about 1.5 weeks before birth. The adult distribution of one-third myelinated and two-thirds unmyelinated axons was noted 3 weeks after birth. Analysis based on to-scale reconstructions of axon and Schwann cell samples from the first 6 postnatal weeks gave the following results. 1) CNS tissue appeared in the proximal part of the root around birth and expanded peripherally during the first three postnatal weeks. (2) The number of Schwann cells associated with myelinated axons decreased. (3) The number of Schwann cells associated with unmyelinated axons increased. (4) The mitotic activity of the Schwann cells was low at birth and nil after the first postnatal weak. (5) Apoptotic cell units were virtually absent. (6) Aberrant Schwann cells, i.e. short and very short Schwann cells with distorted and degenerating myelin sheaths, were common. (7) The endoneurial space contained numerous Schwannoid cells i.e. solitary cells surrounded by a basal lamina. (8) Cytoplasmic contacts between unmyelinated axons and aberrant Schwann cells or Schwannoid cells were observed. We take these results to support our hypothesis.