Ultrastructural investigation on the myelinated fibres in toad medulla oblongata during metamorphosis. 1985

P Del Grande, and V Franceschini, and A Quaglia

The ultrastructure of myelinated fibres in the ventro-medial area of medulla oblongata of metamorphosing Bufo bufo was studied. In the first stages of metamorphosis the fibres show normal distribution of the axonal organelles, while in the myelin sheaths the lamellae appear detached from one another with an irregular period and absence of the intra-period line. In the middle and final stages of metamorphosis there are myelin sheaths like those described above, but there are others with compact lamellae, regular period and intraperiod line always visible. Moreover, it is possible to observe myelin sheaths with intermediate characteristics. In that period of metamorphosis many myelinized axons may show degenerative pictures, more or less evident. However, these always precede possible degenerative aspects of the myelin sheath. The different morphological characteristics of the sheaths can be interpreted as different maturation stages of the myelin sheath, from embryonal to definitive-conditions. It is less easy to interpret the significance of the numerous degenerating nervous fibres observed in the cone sidered area of medulla oblongata. On the basis of the bibliographic data and preceding studies, the Authors think that degeneration of the fibres is not necessarily linked to cellular degeneration, but to a quiescent condition in which many nervous cells of the Amphibian's CNS would settle during metamorphosis while waiting for replacement of the target organs.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008526 Medulla Oblongata The lower portion of the BRAIN STEM. It is inferior to the PONS and anterior to the CEREBELLUM. Medulla oblongata serves as a relay station between the brain and the spinal cord, and contains centers for regulating respiratory, vasomotor, cardiac, and reflex activities. Accessory Cuneate Nucleus,Ambiguous Nucleus,Arcuate Nucleus of the Medulla,Arcuate Nucleus-1,External Cuneate Nucleus,Lateral Cuneate Nucleus,Nucleus Ambiguus,Ambiguus, Nucleus,Arcuate Nucleus 1,Arcuate Nucleus-1s,Cuneate Nucleus, Accessory,Cuneate Nucleus, External,Cuneate Nucleus, Lateral,Medulla Oblongatas,Nucleus, Accessory Cuneate,Nucleus, Ambiguous,Nucleus, External Cuneate,Nucleus, Lateral Cuneate
D008675 Metamorphosis, Biological Profound physical changes during maturation of living organisms from the immature forms to the adult forms, such as from TADPOLES to frogs; caterpillars to BUTTERFLIES. Biological Metamorphosis,Biological Metamorphoses,Metamorphoses, Biological
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
D009410 Nerve Degeneration Loss of functional activity and trophic degeneration of nerve axons and their terminal arborizations following the destruction of their cells of origin or interruption of their continuity with these cells. The pathology is characteristic of neurodegenerative diseases. Often the process of nerve degeneration is studied in research on neuroanatomical localization and correlation of the neurophysiology of neural pathways. Neuron Degeneration,Degeneration, Nerve,Degeneration, Neuron,Degenerations, Nerve,Degenerations, Neuron,Nerve Degenerations,Neuron Degenerations
D009413 Nerve Fibers, Myelinated A class of nerve fibers as defined by their structure, specifically the nerve sheath arrangement. The AXONS of the myelinated nerve fibers are completely encased in a MYELIN SHEATH. They are fibers of relatively large and varied diameters. Their NEURAL CONDUCTION rates are faster than those of the unmyelinated nerve fibers (NERVE FIBERS, UNMYELINATED). Myelinated nerve fibers are present in somatic and autonomic nerves. A Fibers,B Fibers,Fiber, Myelinated Nerve,Fibers, Myelinated Nerve,Myelinated Nerve Fiber,Myelinated Nerve Fibers,Nerve Fiber, Myelinated
D002023 Bufo bufo A species of the true toads, Bufonidae, widely distributed in the United States and Europe. Toad, Common,Common Toad,Common Toads,Toads, Common
D003593 Cytoplasm The part of a cell that contains the CYTOSOL and small structures excluding the CELL NUCLEUS; MITOCHONDRIA; and large VACUOLES. (Glick, Glossary of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 1990) Protoplasm,Cytoplasms,Protoplasms
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
D001369 Axons Nerve fibers that are capable of rapidly conducting impulses away from the neuron cell body. Axon

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