QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

HOME  |   SEARCH  |   ARCHIVE  |   SUBSCRIBE  |   CONTACT  |   HELP

The Journal of Neuroscience, September 5, 2007, 27(36):9573-9584; doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1224-07.2007

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit an eLetter Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (1) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Perrot, R. Articles by Eyer, J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Perrot, R. Articles by Eyer, J.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Cellular/Molecular
Axonal Neurofilaments Control Multiple Fiber Properties But Do Not Influence Structure or Spacing of Nodes of Ranvier

Rodolphe Perrot,¹ Pierre Lonchampt,¹ Alan C. Peterson,² and Joël Eyer¹

¹Laboratoire de Neurobiologie et Transgenese, Unité Propre de Recherche de l'Enseignement Supérieur-Equipe d'Accueil 3143, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Bâtiment Monteclair, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Angers, 49033, France, and ²Molecular Oncology Group, McGill University, Royal Victoria Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3A1A1

Correspondence should be addressed to Joël Eyer, Laboratoire Neurobiologie and Transgenese, UPRES EA3143, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, CHU, Angers 49033, France. Email: joel.eyer{at}univ-angers.fr

In the vertebrate nervous system, axon calibers correlate positively with myelin sheath dimensions and electrophysiological parameters including action potential amplitude and conduction velocity. Neurofilaments, a prominent component of the neuronal cytoskeleton, are required by axons to support their normal radial growth. To distinguish between fiber features that arise in response to absolute axon caliber and those that are under autonomous control, we investigated transgenic mice in which neurofilaments are sequestered in neuronal cell bodies. The neurofilament deficient axons in such mice achieve mature calibers only 50% of normal and have altered conduction properties. We show here that this primary axonal defect also induces multiple changes in myelin sheath composition and radial dimensions. Remarkably, other fundamental fiber features, including internodal spacing and the architecture and composition of nodes of Ranvier, remain unaltered. Thus, many fiber characteristics are controlled through mechanisms operating independently of absolute axon caliber and the neurofilament cytoskeleton.

Key words: neurofilaments; node of Ranvier; myelin; conduction velocity; internodal length; transgenic mice

---

Received March 19, 2007; revised June 30, 2007; accepted July 12, 2007.

Correspondence should be addressed to Joël Eyer, Laboratoire Neurobiologie and Transgenese, UPRES EA3143, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, CHU, Angers 49033, France. Email: joel.eyer{at}univ-angers.fr

Home  |   Search  |   Archive  |   Subscribe  |   Contact  |   Help