Developmental changes in the ultrastructure of the lamprey lateral line nerve during metamorphosis

Abstract

The ultrastructure of the trunk lateral line nerve of larval and adult lampreys was studied with transmission electron microscopy. We confirmed that lampreys' lateral line nerve lacks myelin. Nevertheless, all axons were wrapped by Schwann cell processes. In the larval nerve, gaps between Schwann cells were observed, where the axolemma was covered only by a basal lamina, indicating an earlier developmental stage. In the adult nerve, glial (Schwann cell) ensheathment was mostly complete. Additionally, we observed variable ratios of axons to Schwann cells in larval and adult preparations. In the larval nerve, smaller axons were wrapped by one Schwann cell. Occasionally, a single Schwann cell surrounded two axons. Larger axons were associated with two to five Schwann cells. In the adult nerve, smaller axons were surrounded by one, but larger axons by three to eight Schwann cells. The larval epineurium contained large adipose cells, separated from each other by single fibroblast processes. This layer of adipose tissue was reduced in adult preparation. The larval perineurium was thin, and the fibroblasts, containing large amounts of glycogen granules, were arranged loosely. The adult perineurium was thicker, consisting of at least three layers of fibroblasts separated by collagen fibrils. The larval and adult endoneurium contained collagen fibrils oriented orthogonally to each other. Both larval and adult lateral line nerves possessed a number of putative fascicles weakly defined by a thin layer of perineurial fibroblasts. These results indicate that after a prolonged larval stage, the lamprey lateral line nerve is subjected to additional maturation processes during metamorphosis.