Structure and function of urodele myelin lacking alpha-hydroxy fatty acid-containing galactosphingolipids: Slow nerve conduction and unusual myelin thickness

Abstract

Myelin of several Caudata (Urodela) species appears to be unique in the fact that it lacks hydroxycerebrosides and hydroxysulfatides although it contains their non-hydroxy counterparts. Comparison of the nerve conduction velocities in the Urodeles Necturus (salamander) and Notophthalmus (newt) with that in a reptile, Anolis (chameleon) which contains hydroxycerebrosides and -sulfatides indicated that the values were significantly reduced in the urodeles. Furthermore, urodele myelin thickness remained uniformly the same regardless of the size of the nerve fiber. Despite these differences the myelins appeared structurally similar. Electron microscopic and X-ray diffraction studies did not disclose any structural difference between the two orders. A teased fiber technique established that the ratio of internodal distance and fiber diameter in urodele nerves was essentially similar to that in Anolis. These findings suggest that the absence of hydroxycerebroside and -sulfatide may be related to the reduction in nerve conduction velocity unusual myelin thickness in the urodele nervous system.