Quantitative analysis of postnatal myelin sheath development in the dorsal funiculus of rat.
Postnatal development of myelin sheaths in the dorsal funiculus of rats has been studied qualitatively by light microscopy and morphometry. A distinction is made between Goll's tract and Burdach's tract, and, furthermore, inside Goll's tract the cervical, thoracic and lumbar areas are compared. The induction of myelinization is influenced by a critical range of axon thicknesses. Between the 15th and 20th days of postnatal maturation there is a minimal growth reaction in the dorsal funiculus, but after the 20th day up to the 120th day extensive growth of the myelin sheath can be seen. Burdach's tract shows earlier and faster development of the myelin sheath than Goll's tract cervically, which leads to the conclusion that epicritical sensitivity matures earlier in the upper extremity. Concerning Goll's tract in the lumbar area of the dorsal funiculus, faster maturation than in the thoracic and cervical areas can be seen.
Noppeney
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Anatomisches Institut Universität Hamburg, Abteilung für Neuroanatomie, BRD.
D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D000886:Anthropometry; D001369:Axons / Q000502:physiology*; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development*