Microtubules and calibers in developing axons.

Abstract

The caliber and microtubular content of growing axons were assessed with the electron microscope in the sural nerve of the rat from birth until the age of 63 days (young adult). The caliber of both nonmedullated and myelinated fibers increased throughout the period of observation. At birth, nonmedullated fibers smaller than 0.2 micron2 represented 69% of the population; at day 63 less than 7% were that small. Irrespective of the age of the rat, the number of microtubule profiles of nonmedullated fibers increased with the cross-sectional area of the axon although their packing decreased. In myelinated fibers of a given caliber, the packing of microtubules increased with time, and by day 63 the density had reached its final value. In nonmedullated fibers of a given caliber, a similar trend was observed after day 31; i.e., fibers showed a small but consistent increase in density. However, before that, and in contrast to myelinated fibers, nonmedullated fibers of defined calibers exhibited a transient increase in the microtubular density. Notwithstanding, during the history of an individual fiber the packing of its microtubules may decrease continuously until stabilizing, because the developing fiber is increasing its caliber and hence decreasing its microtubular density. In the 5-day-old rats, the caliber spectra of myelinated and nonmedullated axons overlapped in the 0.49-0.83 micron2 range and their microtubular densities were similar. We conclude that the microtubular content of developing axons correlates with caliber, an architectural feature, and is largely independent of growth and of its myelinated condition. We propose that the cytoskeletal rather than the transport function commands the organization of axonal microtubules.