Increased polyunsaturated fatty acids in developing and regenerating peripheral nerve.

Characteristic fatty acids of peripheral nerve myelin are mainly saturated and monounsaturated. A marked increase of polyunsaturated fatty acids, particularly arachidonic acid, was found in endoneurial phosphatidylethanolamine of both developing and regenerating rat sciatic nerve, suggesting a close association between polyunsaturated fatty acids and peripheral nerve myelination.