Structure and nature of macrophages participating in the wallerian degeneration of nerve fibers.

The posttraumatic processes of Wallerian degeneration of nerves have been illuminated in detail. The dynamics of the breakdown of axons and the myelin sheaths of nerve fibers has been established, as have been the periods of the changes in the composition of myelin, and the reactive changes in the Schwann cells and the connective tissue structures in the makeup of the nerve as well as the formation of "foam" cells have been described. The controversial questions which have been raised in these studies regarding the role of the cellular elements (the Schwann cells, the endoneurial fibroblasts, the cells of the epi- and perineurium) during Wallerian degeneration remain unresolved until the present time. In particular, the question as to which cells participate in the cleanup of the products of the breakdown of the myelin sheaths, and as to the character of the inflammatory infiltration in Wallerian degeneration and the degree of the participation of the various cellular elements in the destructive and reparative processes, has not been elucidated. Some investigators believe that the Schwann cells accomplish the cleanup of the products of the breakdown of the myelin sheaths. There are also data suggesting that the macrophages are of considerable significance in the cleanup of the products of the breakdown of nerve fibers of both the PNS and the CNS following their injury. It has been demonstrated by means of monoclonal antibodies to macrophages, radioautography, and immunocytochemical methods that these macrophages have a hematogenous origin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)