PubMed HealthSearch

Biomedical subjects

G Y Mustafa

Publications and source records attributed to G Y Mustafa.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

Influence of an experimental hindlimb maldevelopment on axon number and nodal spacing in the rat sciatic nerve.

In neonatal rat pups the femoral and tibial epiphyseal cartilages on the left side were coagulated with a microcautery device. The subsequent femoral and tibial growth in length was markedly restricted on the left side, but the foot and the pelvic region exhibited normal longitudinal growth. After 6 months the sciatic nerves were removed from both sides. Electron microscopic analysis of nerve specimens from the stunted side revealed that the number of axons was 20% less compared to control specimens. Light microscopic examination of teased preparations showed a normal nodal spacing in the pelvic segment but abnormally short internodes in the femoral segment of the left sciatic nerve. These results suggest that the number of axons in the rat sciatic nerve adapts to a target maldevelopment that sets in neonatally, and that internodal elongation during development proceeds according to the local growth in length of the nerve rather than to the length growth of the whole nerve.

Animals

Changes in axonal numbers in developing human trochlear nerve.

Complete axonal counts have been made in the intracranial parts of trochlear nerves from human fetuses of 9.2, 10 and 24 cm crown-rump length. A count was also made in the intraorbital part of the nerve from the 10 cm specimen. Schwann cell nuclei were also counted in typical cross sections, but do not necessarily reflect very accurately the schwann cell contents of the nerves. Axonal numbers conform to the propositions (1) that they do not all grow out at once, (2) do not all survive and (3) that degeneration may occur before or after myelination has begun. It seems inevitable that some loss of Schwann cells occurs in relation to the degeneration of myelinated axons, but there is no evidence for or against such a loss in relation to the degeneration of unmyelinated axons. Overall, however, Schwann cell numbers tend to increase as the number of myelinated axons increases.

Axons

Observations on the development of the connective tissues of developing human nerve.

Trochlear nerves from two human fetuses, and digital nerves from a third, have been examined by electron microscopy. Very marked differences in maturation were found between trochlear nerves of fetuses of ages differing only by 2--3 weeks, and between proximal and distal parts of the same trochlear nerve. Immaturity was reflected in paucity of endoneurial space and collagen and in the rarity, or virtual absence, of endoneurial fibroblasts. Circumstantial evidence of collagen formation by Schwann cells has been presented and discussed.

Axons