Henry E W, Sidman R L
Department of Neuropathology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115.
Science. 1988 Jul 15;241(4863):344-6. doi: 10.1126/science.3388045.
Nervous system functions are dependent on point-to-point communication of signals along neuronal axons, and axonal insulation by myelin is thought to speed such conduction. Loss of previously formed myelin or lack of myelin formation can have serious, even fatal, consequences. Mice homozygous for the trembler mutation make virtually no peripheral nervous system myelin, yet have long and functional lives. This result calls into question the view that peripheral nervous system myelin plays a vital role, at least in this species.
神经系统的功能依赖于沿着神经元轴突的信号点对点通信，并且认为髓磷脂对轴突的绝缘作用可加速这种传导。先前形成的髓磷脂丧失或髓磷脂形成不足可能会产生严重甚至致命的后果。纯合子震颤突变小鼠几乎不产生外周神经系统髓磷脂，但却能长期存活且功能正常。这一结果使人质疑外周神经系统髓磷脂至少在该物种中起关键作用的观点。
