Internodal specializations of myelinated axons in the central nervous system (original) (raw)

Abstract.

We have examined the localization of contactin-associated protein (Caspr), the _Shaker_-type potassium channels, Kv1.1 and Kv1.2, their associated β subunit, Kvβ2, and Caspr2 in the myelinated fibers of the CNS. Caspr is localized to the paranodal axonal membrane, and Kv1.1, Kv1.2, Kvβ2 and Caspr2 to the juxtaparanodal membrane. In addition to the paranodal staining, an internodal strand of Caspr staining apposes the inner mesaxon of the myelin sheath. Unlike myelinated axons in the peripheral nervous system, there was no internodal strand of Kv1.1, Kv1.2, Kvβ2, or Caspr2. Thus, the organization of the nodal, paranodal, and juxtaparanodal axonal membrane is similar in the central and peripheral nervous systems, but the lack of Kv1.1/Kv1.2/Kvβ2/Caspr2 internodal strands indicates that the oligodendrocyte myelin sheaths lack a trans molecular interaction with axons, an interaction that is present in Schwann cell myelin sheaths.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, The University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA, USA
    Edgardo J. Arroyo, Theodore Xu & Steven S. Scherer
  2. Department of Neuroscience, The University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA, USA
    Melanie Watson
  3. Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, 76100 Rehovot, Israel, Israel
    Sebastian Poliak & Elior Peles

Authors

  1. Edgardo J. Arroyo
    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar
  2. Theodore Xu
    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar
  3. Sebastian Poliak
    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar
  4. Melanie Watson
    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar
  5. Elior Peles
    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar
  6. Steven S. Scherer
    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Electronic Publication

Rights and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Arroyo, E.J., Xu, T., Poliak, S. et al. Internodal specializations of myelinated axons in the central nervous system.Cell Tissue Res 305, 53–66 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/s004410100403

Download citation