Low Angle X-Ray Diffraction Studies on Myelin Isolated from Normal Human White Matter and from Patients Dying with Multiple Sclerosis

Abstract

The low angle X-ray diffraction patterns of myelin isolated from normal human white matter and white matter of patients dying with multiple sclerosis (MS) was investigated in the presence and absence of long chain alcohols, n-decanol, n-dodecanol and n-tetradecanol. Additional reflections were consistently observed in the MS material only in the presence of the alcohols. These data are consistent with the presence of domains of loose structure in the MS samples which may contribute to myelin breakdown.