Physiological properties of dystrophic mouse spinal root axons.

In the spinal root axons of dystrophic mice conduction of nerve impulses is slow and either saltatory or continuous, presumably corresponding to areas of myelination and amyelination respectively. These abnormally myelinated axons contain foci of hyperexcitability manifested by spontaneous ectopic excitation, ephaptic excitation and autoexcitation. Similar phenomena in demyelinated central and peripheral nerve fibres may underly positive neurological symptomatology in human peripheral and central demyelinating diseases (Rasminsky 1981, 1982).