Topic: nodes of Ranvier

The neural basis of abnormal social behavior in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) remains incompletely understood and previous studies has highlighted that altered myelination could be involved in the pathophysiology of ASD. We have characterized the myelination process during development in the cntnap2-/- mouse model of ASD. We observed that oligodendrocyte differentiation and myelination are transiently impaired during cortical development in cntnap2-/- mice. Thus, we observed a reduction in myelinated fibers, the number of nodes of Ranvier and the proportion of mature oligodendrocytes in somat

Experience and neuronal activity can induce dynamic changes in myelination during development and in adult life, suggesting a new form of plasticity to adapt brain function to environmental stimuli. Myelin remodeling is driven mainly by newly-formed oligodendrocytes from precursors cells. However, the role of mature oligodendrocytes in plastic changes of myelin is less known. In order to analyze the role of mature oligodendrocytes, we have used inducible transgenic mice expressing the DREADD receptor hM3Dq in PLP+ myelinating cells. In vivo chronic CNO treatment shortened the nodes of Ranvier

Globular bushy cells in the cochlear nucleus of the auditory brainstem circuit are responsible for the fast relay of signals to the superior olivary complex. Their axons possess a low internode length/axon diameter ratio (L/D) of ~60 that allow action potentials to travel along their axons with exceptional speed and precision. We investigate how the unusual myelination pattern develops. Recently, we showed that the internode length is determined early in development followed – after hearing onset - by an increase in axon diameter, which causes the L/D ratio to decrease. Additionally, we found