title: Microtubules and neurofilaments in the sciatic nerve fibres of the developing rat: Effects of thyroid deficiency.
abstract: Microtubules and neurofilaments were counted in cross-sections of the sciatic nerve fibres of young rats at various stages of development. A linear relationship was found between the numbers of microtubules and neurofilaments and the size of the fibre. The number of microtubules progressively increased during the first two postnatal weeks. Neurofilaments appeared slightly later than microtubules. In thyroid deficiency, the number of microtubules was diminished. The number of neurofilaments was not markedly affected. The ratio of neurofilaments to microtubules was thus increased. The severe retardation of sciatic nerve growth observed in thyroid deficiency might be related to the reduced number of microtubules and to a diminution in fibre plasticity induced by the higher neurofilament to microtubule ratio.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Physiologie comparée, UA 653 du CNRS: "Neurobiologie du Développement et Endocrinologie". Université des Sciences et Techniques du Languedoc, Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marc
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rabié