Multi-Step Clustering Approach of Myelinated Nerve Fibers in Experimental Neuromorphology

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 73-91
Author(s):  
Taras Kotyk ◽  
Nadiya Tokaruk ◽  
Viktoria Bedej ◽  
Mariia Hryshchuk ◽  
Oksana Popadynets ◽  
...  

One of the unresolved issues in experimental neuromorphology is searching for a solution for myelinated nerve fibers clustering on set of morphometric parameters. Therefore, in this article, a new approach for cluster analysis of myelinated fibers is proposed based on their morpho-functional features. The proposed clustering approach was developed in R software environment and uses model-based clustering, which is performed in few steps with increasing number of morphometric parameters on each next step. Applying the proposed clustering solution shown high similarity of identified groups' morphometric parameters with respective physiological types of myelinated A-fibers. This fact, in addition to the algorithm implementation simplicity, facilitates its use on identifying clusters of myelinated fibers that represent different myelinated fibers subpopulation in experimental neuromorphological research with high level of reliability.

2011 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 171 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yong Tang ◽  
Jens R Nyengaard ◽  
Bente Pakkenberg ◽  
Hans Jørgen G Gundersen

Unbiased stereological sampling and counting techniques for estimating the total length, total volume and diameter distribution of myelinated nerve fibers in white matter and the total number of synapses in neocortex of human autopsy brains were described. Uniform random sampling of tissues from entire hemisphere was performed. The total volume and total length of myelinated fibers in white matter were estimated from the product of the volume of white matter obtained with the Cavalieri principle and the volume density and length density of myelinated fibers in white matter, respectively. The volume density of myelinated nerve fibers in white a matter was estimated with a point counting method. The length density of myelinated fibers in white matter was estimated from the isotropic, uniform random sections that were ensured by the sector. The diameter of myelinated fibers was derived by measuring the profile diameterperpendicular to its longest axis. The ethanolic phosphotungstic acid staining technique was modified for staining synapses in human autopsy brains. The total number of synapses in each neocortical region was estimated as the product of the volume of each neocortical region and the numerical density of synapses in each region. The numerical density of synapses in each neocortical region was obtained with the disector at the electron microscopical level. The presented methods will be useful for quantitative studies of the changes of myelinated nerve fibers and synapses in various distinct regions of the central nervous system due to development, aging and diseases.


1953 ◽  
Vol 98 (3) ◽  
pp. 269-276 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. De Robertis ◽  
C. M. Franchi

A technique has been developed for the extrusion of axon material from myelinated nerve fibers. This material is then compressed and prepared for observation with the electron microscope. All the stages of preparation and purification of the axon material can be checked microscopically and in the present paper they are illustrated with phase contrast photomicrographs. Observation with the electron microscope of the compressed axons showed the presence of the following components: granules, fibrils, and a membranous material. Only the larger granules could be seen with the ordinary microscope. A considerable number of dense granules were observed. Of these the largest resemble typical mitochondria of 250 mµ by 900 mµ. In addition rows or small clusters of dense granules ranging in diameter from 250 to 90 mµ were present. In several specimens fragments of a membrane 120 to 140 A thick and intimately connected with the axon were found. The entire axon appeared to be constituted of a large bundle of parallel tightly packed fibrils among which the granules are interspersed. The fibrils are of indefinite length and generally smooth. They are rather labile structures, less resistant in the rat than in the toad nerve. They varied between 100 and 400 A in diameter and in some cases disintegrated into very fine filaments (less than 100 A thick). The significance is discussed of the submicroscopic structures revealed by electron microscopy of the material prepared in the way described.


2016 ◽  
Vol 14 (7) ◽  
pp. 3345-3350 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alvaro Gabriel Piza ◽  
Fernando Daniel Farfan ◽  
Ana Lia Albarracin ◽  
Facundo Adrian Lucianna ◽  
Jorge Humberto Soletta ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Jeanette M. Metzger ◽  
Helen N. Matsoff ◽  
Don Vu ◽  
Alexandra D. Zinnen ◽  
Kathryn M. Jones ◽  
...  

Minimal myelination is proposed to be a contributing factor to the preferential nigral neuronal loss in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Similar to nigral dopaminergic neurons, sympathetic neurons innervating the heart have long, thin axons which are unmyelinated or minimally myelinated. Interestingly, cardiac sympathetic loss in PD is heterogeneous across the heart, yet the spatial relationship between myelination and neurodegeneration is unknown. Here, we report the mapping of myelin basic protein (MBP) expression across the left ventricle of normal rhesus macaques (n = 5) and animals intoxicated with systemic 6-OHDA (50 mg/kg iv) to model parkinsonian cardiac neurodegeneration (n = 10). A subset of 6-OHDA-treated rhesus received daily dosing of pioglitazone (5 mg/kg po; n = 5), a PPARγ agonist with neuroprotective properties. In normal animals, MBP-immunoreactivity (-ir) was identified surrounding approximately 14% of axonal fibers within nerve bundles of the left ventricle, with more myelinated nerve fibers at the base level of the left ventricle than the apex p < 0.014 . Greater MBP-ir at the base was related to a greater number of nerve bundles at that level relative to the apex p < 0.05 , as the percent of myelinated nerve fibers in bundles was not significantly different between levels of the heart. Cardiac sympathetic loss following 6-OHDA was associated with decreased MBP-ir in cardiac nerve bundles, with the percent decrease of MBP-ir greater in the apex (84.5%) than the base (52.0%). Interestingly, cardiac regions and levels with more MBP-ir in normal animals showed attenuated sympathetic loss relative to areas with less MBP-ir in 6-OHDA + placebo (r = −0.7, p < 0.014 ), but not in 6-OHDA + pioglitazone (r = −0.1) subjects. Our results demonstrate that myelination is present around a minority of left ventricle nerve bundle fibers, is heterogeneously distributed in the heart of rhesus macaques, and has a complex relationship with cardiac sympathetic neurodegeneration and neuroprotection.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document