Axonal swellings in jimpy mice: does lack of myelin cause neuronal abnormalities?
We have observed focal axonal enlargements in jimpy, a myelin deficient mutant mouse. Similar axonal swellings have also been found in other studies, in two other myelin deficient mutant mice and in a myelin deficient mutant rat. We suggest that this axonal abnormality represents a common secondary reaction to lack of myelin. Such a secondary reaction might also occur in other species including human, in response to deficient myelin or to loss of myelin due to disease.
D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D051379:Mice; D008816:Mice, Jimpy / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D008818:Mice, Neurologic Mutants / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000502:physiology*; D009421:Nervous System Malformations