[Unmyelinated nerve fibers]. 2003

O S Sotnikov
Laboratory of Neuron Functional Morphology and Physiology, RAS I.P. Pavlov Institute of Physiology, St. Petersburg.

The paper presents a critical review of various current concepts of the structure and kinetics of unmyelinated nerve fiber. A classification of nerve fibers, different from the earlier ones, is proposed, that demonstrates not only the morphological fiber types, but also the kinetics of their reversible transition stages from non-glial to myelinated fiber. Evidence is presented to show the erroneousness of conceptions, still appearing in many publications, that consider the unmyelinated nerve fiber as "the Remak's cable type fiber". According to the current data, "Remak's fiber" is a glial-neurite complex, i.e. a bundle of unmyelinated nerve fibers covered with a single glial cell. Using the electron microscope, it was demonstrated that comparable glial-neurite complexes of myelinated nerve fibers, formed in CNS in a similar way by a single oligodendrocyte, cannot be named a single fiber. Cutting the nerves makes visible that the single fibers forming "the Remak's fiber" stem from different cells, therefore they cannot be a single "fiber". It has been shown for the first time experimentally, that in extreme situations, as a result of contraction of gliocyte processes, unmyelinated fibers may "leave" the glial-neurite complexes and become the nonglial fibers. Some data are presented that may serve as criteria for differentiation of unmyelinated fiber with a stratified sheath from developing myelinated fiber.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009186 Myelin Sheath The lipid-rich sheath surrounding AXONS in both the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEMS and PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM. The myelin sheath is an electrical insulator and allows faster and more energetically efficient conduction of impulses. The sheath is formed by the cell membranes of glial cells (SCHWANN CELLS in the peripheral and OLIGODENDROGLIA in the central nervous system). Deterioration of the sheath in DEMYELINATING DISEASES is a serious clinical problem. Myelin,Myelin Sheaths,Sheath, Myelin,Sheaths, Myelin
D009412 Nerve Fibers Slender processes of NEURONS, including the AXONS and their glial envelopes (MYELIN SHEATH). Nerve fibers conduct nerve impulses to and from the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM. Cerebellar Mossy Fibers,Mossy Fibers, Cerebellar,Cerebellar Mossy Fiber,Mossy Fiber, Cerebellar,Nerve Fiber
D009457 Neuroglia The non-neuronal cells of the nervous system. They not only provide physical support, but also respond to injury, regulate the ionic and chemical composition of the extracellular milieu, participate in the BLOOD-BRAIN BARRIER and BLOOD-RETINAL BARRIER, form the myelin insulation of nervous pathways, guide neuronal migration during development, and exchange metabolites with neurons. Neuroglia have high-affinity transmitter uptake systems, voltage-dependent and transmitter-gated ion channels, and can release transmitters, but their role in signaling (as in many other functions) is unclear. Bergmann Glia,Bergmann Glia Cells,Bergmann Glial Cells,Glia,Glia Cells,Satellite Glia,Satellite Glia Cells,Satellite Glial Cells,Glial Cells,Neuroglial Cells,Bergmann Glia Cell,Bergmann Glial Cell,Cell, Bergmann Glia,Cell, Bergmann Glial,Cell, Glia,Cell, Glial,Cell, Neuroglial,Cell, Satellite Glia,Cell, Satellite Glial,Glia Cell,Glia Cell, Bergmann,Glia Cell, Satellite,Glia, Bergmann,Glia, Satellite,Glial Cell,Glial Cell, Bergmann,Glial Cell, Satellite,Glias,Neuroglial Cell,Neuroglias,Satellite Glia Cell,Satellite Glial Cell,Satellite Glias
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D016501 Neurites In tissue culture, hairlike projections of neurons stimulated by growth factors and other molecules. These projections may go on to form a branched tree of dendrites or a single axon or they may be reabsorbed at a later stage of development. "Neurite" may refer to any filamentous or pointed outgrowth of an embryonal or tissue-culture neural cell. Neurite
D036421 Nerve Fibers, Unmyelinated A class of nerve fibers as defined by their nerve sheath arrangement. The AXONS of the unmyelinated nerve fibers are small in diameter and usually several are surrounded by a single MYELIN SHEATH. They conduct low-velocity impulses, and represent the majority of peripheral sensory and autonomic fibers, but are also found in the BRAIN and SPINAL CORD. C Fibers,C Fiber,Nerve Fiber, Unmyelinated,Unmyelinated Nerve Fiber,Unmyelinated Nerve Fibers

Related Publications

O S Sotnikov
January 1989, Clinical neuropathology,
O S Sotnikov
November 2012, Brain and nerve = Shinkei kenkyu no shinpo,
O S Sotnikov
March 2001, Okajimas folia anatomica Japonica,
O S Sotnikov
February 1998, Annals of neurology,
O S Sotnikov
February 2019, IEEE transactions on bio-medical engineering,
O S Sotnikov
June 2009, Journal of the peripheral nervous system : JPNS,
O S Sotnikov
January 2000, Histology and histopathology,
Copied contents to your clipboard!