AFM combines functional and morphological analysis of peripheral myelinated and

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Neuroimage. 2007 Jun 16

AFM combines functional and morphological analysis of peripheral

myelinated and demyelinated nerve fibers.

Heredia A, Bui CC, Suter U, Young P, Schäffer TE.

Institute of Physics, University of Münster, Wilhelm-Klemm-Str. 10,

48149 Münster, Germany; Center for Nanotechnology, University of

Münster, Heisenbergstr. 11, 48149 Münster, Germany.

Demyelination of the myelinated peripheral or central axon is a

common pathophysiological step in the clinical manifestation of

several human diseases of the peripheral and the central nervous

system such as the majority of Charcot-Marie-Tooth syndromes and

multiple sclerosis, respectively.

The structural degradation of the axon insulating myelin sheath has

profound consequences for ionic conduction and nerve function in

general, but also affects the micromechanical properties of the

nerve fiber. We have for the first time investigated mechanical

properties of rehydrated, isolated peripheral nerve fibers from

mouse using atomic force microscopy (AFM).

We have generated quantitative maps of elastic modulus along

myelinated and demyelinated axons, together with quantitative maps

of axon topography. This study shows that AFM can combine functional

and morphological analysis of neurological tissue at the level of

single nerve fibers.