Myelinization
The myelinization takes place first in connection with histogenesis and that from the 4th month of fetal development. Myelinization of the peripheral nervous systems precedes that of the CNS. Indeed, this process begins in the root fibers of the spinal nerves. In this the motor roots are myelinized before those of the sensory roots. In contrast, the sensory nerve cells of the CNS obtain their myelin sheaths before the motor neurons
Astrocyte (Histology; HE)
Astrocyte (Histology; GFAP)
Oligodendrocyte (3D Reconstruction)
The glia cells that are responsible for myelinization stem from different embryonic predecessors:
- For myelinization in the CNS the oligodendrocytes, which arise out of the ventricular zone of the neural tube, are responsible.
- In the PNS myelinization takes place through Schwann’s cells, which are descendents of the neural crest.
- Cell body of the neuron
- Oligodendrocyte
- Schwann’s cell
- Axon
- Nodes of Ranvier
Schematic diagram of the myelinization of a multipolar neuron, at the left in the CNS and, on the right in the PNS.
Myelinization in the central nervous system
Oligodendrocytes are responsible for myelinization in the CNS. They stem from the ventricular zone of the neural tube
Each oligodendrocyte produces several offshoots each of which wraps around various neighboring axons. The membrane layers that come to lie on top of each other in spiral wrappings of an axon section, myelinize an internode, i.e., the section of an axon between two neighboring nodes of Ranvier. In the region of the nodes the axons are without their myelin sheath so the astrocyte processes can thrust in between the processes of the olidodendrocytes.
- The cell nucleus of the oligodendrocytes
- Cell body
- Axon
- Cell processes of the oligodendrocytes
- Mesaxon (virtual gap space)
- Myelin lamellae
In the CNS myelinization takes place in a way analogous to that in the PNS (see below). The oligodendrocytes form it by wrapping an axon section with several membrane layers.
Nevertheless, differences exist between central and peripheral myelinization. This concerns the formation of several myelin layers (three in the diagram) by a single oligodendrocyte, the appearing of cytoplasma in the region of the wrapping as well as the differing composition of the myelin.
- NB Small diagram: an oligodendrocyte in the CNS can myelinize up to 40 neighboring internodes (sections of a nerve fiber between neighboring nodes of Ranvier).
Myelinization in the peripheral nervous system
In the peripheral nervous system (PNS) myelinization of the axons results from the Schwann’s cells. These arise from the neural crest.
Whether myelinized or myelin-poor: the axons of the peripheral nerves are always surrounded by Schwann’s cells. Myelin-poor nerve fibers are characterized by the fact that they sink, individually or severally, into the grooves formed by the cellular membrane of a Schwann’s cell. Thus, in the PNS, there are essentially two forms of axons
- Myelin-poor fibers
Myelin-poor nerve fibers are formed by axons that individually or severally sink into a Schwann’s cell without the wrapping of the corresponding internodes by cellular processes of Schwann’s cells taking place
- The nodes of Ranvier of the peripheral nervous systems differ from those of the CNS. While in the region of the PNS nodes of Ranvier there is an interleaving of the cytoplasma of neighboring Schwann’s cells, a CNS axon gap between two oligodendrocytes remains completely uncovered.
- Internode designated the section of the axon that lies between two neighboring nodes of Ranvier.
- 1
- Cell nucleus of the Schwann’s cell
- 2
- Cell body
- 3
- Axon
- 5
- Mesaxon (virtual gap space)
One Schwann’s cell can accommodate several axons. In this no wrapping occurs (and thus also no myelin formation).
- Myelinized nerve fibers
A myelinized nerve fiber in the PNS consists of a single axon. Each of its internodes (section between neighboring nodes of Ranvier) becomes wrapped by the cellular process of a Schwann’s cell
During the myelinization in the PNS an axon sinks into a groove of a Schwann’s cell. Through this, an almost complete wrapping takes place, only leaving a narrow gap, the mesaxon, that leads from the axon to the surface. Via the formation of a considerable amount of cell membrane material a wrapping of the axon (up to 100 layers) occurs. At the beginning cytoplasma is still to be found within the cytoplasma process of a Schwann’s cell. Gradually, this is suppressed until the membrane layers stick to one another. Thus a lipoprotein complex is formed that represents the compact myelin sheath.
- Cell nucleus of a Schwann’s cell
- Cell body
- Axon
- Cellular process of a Schwann’s cell
- Mesaxon (virtual gap)
- Myelin lamellae
In the peripheral nervous system a Schwann’s cell myelinizes a single internode of a single peripheral axon.
At birth myelinization is not yet complete. To the contrary, this process reaches its maximum during the first six months of life and continues, when less pronounced, into puberty and beyond. The myelinization of the connective apparatus (tractus corticospinales) continues up to the second year of age.
Myelin is lipoprotein type of substance that both protects the axons as well as isolates them electrically. Through this the stimulus conduction of is considerably accelerated (from 1 m/s in myelin-poor fibers up to 150 m/s in myelinized ones). Only the axons are myelinized, never, though, the dendrites.