Myelin

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xxii

   PDF

2. Morphological Aspects of Myelin and Myelination

   • Cedric S. Raine

   Pages 1-49

3. Diffraction Studies of Molecular Organization in Myelin

   • Daniel A. Kirschner, D. L. D. Caspar

   Pages 51-89

4. Molecular Architecture of Myelin

   • Peter E. Braun

   Pages 91-115

5. Physiological Basis of Conduction in Myelinated Nerve Fibers

   • R. B. Rogart, J. M. Ritchie

   Pages 117-159

6. Isolation and Characterization of Myelin

   • William T. Norton

   Pages 161-199

7. Proteins of Myelin

   • Peter E. Braun, Steven W. Brostoff

   Pages 201-231

8. Metabolism of Myelin

   • Joyce A. Benjamins, Marion E. Smith

   Pages 233-270

9. The Neuropathology of Myelin Diseases

   • Cedric S. Raine, Herbert H. Schaumburg

   Pages 271-323

10. The Neurology of Myelin Diseases

    • Herbert H. Schaumburg, Cedric S. Raine

    Pages 325-351

11. Pathophysiology of Conduction in Demyelinated Nerve Fibers

    • R. B. Rogart, J. M. Ritchie

    Pages 353-382

12. Chemical Pathology of Diseases Involving Myelin

    • William T. Norton

    Pages 383-413

13. Immunological Responses to Myelin and Myelin Components

    • Steven W. Brostoff

    Pages 415-446

14. Model Systems for Study of Perturbations of Myelin Metabolism

    • Marion E. Smith, Joyce A. Benjamins

    Pages 447-488

15. Animal Models of Genetic Disorders of Myelin

    • Edward L. Hogan

    Pages 489-520

16. Back Matter

    Pages 521-531

    PDF

The division of the mature mammalian brain and spinal cord into regions of "white" matter and "gray" matter is observable upon the most cursory inspection. Microscopic examination indicates that the "white" matter regions are characterized by a multilamellar sheath (myelin) which sur­ rounds the axons. A morphologically similar myelin imparts the white color to tracts of the peripheral nervous system, although, as is empha­ sized throughout the book, there are very significant morphological and chemical differences between central and peripheral myelin. The rapid postnatal accumulation of myelin is temporally associated with increasing functional capacity and presumably indicates some important role related to neuronal activity. The ability of myelinated axons to conduct electrical impulses much more rapidly and with much lower use of energy, relative to unmyelinated axons, is now generally accepted. As is evident from the above capsule description, a considerable body of information concerning myelin is available. However, as in other areas of research the unknown expands before us more rapidly than we are able to add to our core of knowledge. This is a corollary of the axiom that a good experiment raises more questions than it answers. Among the areas currendy under investigation in many laboratories are the following: interaction of myelin-forming cells with neurons, assembly and metabo­ lism of myelin, molecular architecture of myelin, and the details of the functional role of myelin.

• brain
• myelin
• nervous system
• neurons
• spinal cord

• University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, USA

  Pierre Morell

Policies and ethics