title: Laser beam coupling into nerve fiber myelin allows one to assess its structural membrane properties.
abstract: We show that myelin, the insulation wrap of nerve fibers, can couple laser light, thus behaving as a single-cell optical device. The effect was employed to map distinct myelin regions based on the coupling efficiency. Raman spectra acquisition allowed us to simultaneously understand the underlying microscopic differences in the membrane lipid ordering degree. The described method potentially provides new capabilities in myelin-associated disease studies and can be used as a handy tool for myelin structure investigation in combination with other methods.
authors.affiliation: Moscow State University, Biophysics Department, Biological Faculty, Leninskie Gory 1/12, Moscow 119234, Russia.
authors.forename: Nikolay P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Kutuzov
authors.affiliation: Moscow State University, Biophysics Department, Biological Faculty, Leninskie Gory 1/12, Moscow 119234, Russia.
authors.forename: Alexey R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Brazhe
authors.affiliation: All-Russian Research Institute for Optical and Physical Measurements, Ozernaya 46, Moscow 119361, Russia.
authors.forename: Vladimir L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Lyaskovskiy
authors.affiliation: Moscow State University, Biophysics Department, Biological Faculty, Leninskie Gory 1/12, Moscow 119234, Russia.
authors.forename: Georgy V
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Maksimov
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D007834:Lasers; D057054:Molecular Imaging / Q000379:methods; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D011896:Rana temporaria; D012031:Refractometry / Q000379:methods*; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman / Q000379:methods