Quantitative analysis of the opossum's optic nerve: an electron microscope study

J Comp Neurol. 1978 Apr 15;178(4):773-82. doi: 10.1002/cne.901780411.

Abstract

An electron microscope examination of the optic nerve of the opossum, Didelphis marsupialis aurita, indicates a total count of 74,7000 fibers of which approximately 20% are unmyelinated. The diameters of myelinated fibers ranged from 0.5-7 mum (mode at 1.25 mum) and those of the unmyelinated fibers ranged from 0.25-2.25 mum (mode at 0.75 mum). Myelinated and unmyelinated fibers are uniformly distributed throughout the nerve. Myelin sheath structure is similar to that described in other species and are formed by 2 to 17 myelin rings (mode at 6). There is a good correlation (r = 0.92) between axon and myelin areas. The relation between myelin thickness and axons diameter shows a wide distribution with a peak at 0.77.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Axons / ultrastructure
  • Cell Count
  • Microscopy, Electron
  • Myelin Sheath / ultrastructure
  • Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / ultrastructure
  • Opossums / anatomy & histology*
  • Optic Nerve / cytology*
  • Optic Nerve / ultrastructure