Electronmicroscopic pictures of white matter axons in healthy control mice (top) and mice with different myelin gene defects. Axons that remain wrapped with abnormal myelin (middle) are constricted by distal oligodendrocyte processes (colorized in red) and show signs of degeneration (asterisk). Stripping of abnormal myelin (bottom) by microglia (colorized in green) increases the chance for axons to survive. Scale bar: 0.5 µm.
Electronmicroscopic pictures of white matter axons in healthy control mice ( top ) and mice with different myelin gene defects. Axons that remain wrapped with abnormal myelin ( middle ) are constricted by distal oligodendrocyte processes (colorized in red) and show signs of degeneration (asterisk). Stripping of abnormal myelin ( bottom ) by microglia (colorized in green) increases the chance for axons to survive. Scale bar: 0.5 µm. (Image: Janos Groh, © Springer Nature) Efficient removal of abnormal myelin allows survival of nerve fibers targeted by adaptive immune cells, according to a novel study by scientists of the University Hospital Würzburg. Myelin is an insulating sheath around axons - the processes connecting nerve cells - that is mostly composed of lipids and proteins. It enables rapid conduction of electrical signals and supports neuronal integrity and function.
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