title: Distribution of elastic system fibers in the peripheral nerves of mammals.
abstract: Various nerves of 6 representative species of mammals (including the human) were studied by the comparative association of the selective staining methods of light microscopy with the ultrastructural observation after tannic acid-glutaraldehyde fixation, which provided a reliable means of characterizing the different elastic system fibers. Although mature elastic fibers are not present in nerves, elastic-related fibers are frequently observed: oxytalan fibers are found mainly in the endoneurium, whereas elaunin fibers predominate in the epineurium. These fibers are longitudinally disposed, in a parallel orientation to the axons. The fact that these findings were consistently observed in the nerves of all species studied argues strongly in favor of the existence of a uniform structural pattern of distribution of elastic system fibers in nerves as a general phenomenon in mammals.
authors: Department of Histology and Embryology, University of São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: J M
authors: JM
authors: Ferreira
authors: E G
authors: EG
authors: Caldini
authors: G S
authors: GS
authors: Montes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003285:Contractile Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D004285:Dogs; D004547:Elastic Tissue / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006801:Humans; D008322:Mammals / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000072260:RNA Splicing Factors; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D013194:Staining and Labeling
chemical_list: D003285:Contractile Proteins; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D000072260:RNA Splicing Factors; C049028:elaunin; C016598:microfibrillar protein