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Remyelination after transient experimental compression of the spinal cord
Author(s) -
Harrison B. M.,
McDonald W. I.
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
annals of neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.764
H-Index - 296
eISSN - 1531-8249
pISSN - 0364-5134
DOI - 10.1002/ana.410010606
Subject(s) - remyelination , wallerian degeneration , spinal cord , myelin , lesion , spinal cord compression , myelin sheath , pathology , medicine , axon , anatomy , compression (physics) , neuroscience , central nervous system , biology , materials science , composite material
Abstract The lesion produced in the cat by experimental transient spinal cord compression was examined by electron microscopy. Compression sufficient to produce reversible paraparesis is associated with a predominantly demyelinating lesion; more severe compression produces an increased amount of wallerian degeneration. Remyelination by oligodendrocytes commences in the third week. Complete myelin segments with many normal ultrastructural features are formed. The thickness of the new myelin increases with time but has still not reached adult values after 18 months. Schwann cells of peripheral origin remyelinate some central axons in the more severe lesions.