Interlamellar tight junctions of central myelin. I. Developmental mechanisms during myelogenesis.

The process of myelination in the central nervous system (CNS) of the rat (optic nerve) was studied with the freeze-fracturing technique and ultrathin sectioning to obtain information on the developmental mechanisms of interlamellar tight junctions. Using a tilting cartridge for analysis of thin sections, it could be demonstrated that during the initial phase of wrapping a tight junction formation develops between the joining tips of the oligodendrocytic process. In tannic acid-stained samples these junctions appear as typical quintuple-layered membrane fusions, while in potassium permanganate-stained material membrane thickenings between the apposing glial tips are prevalent. The latter configuration represents the characteristic feature of the so-called radial component of central myelin. Using the freeze-fracturing technique, a biphasic mode of the myelinic tight junction assembly was detected. It is suggested that tight junctions represent a prerequisite of the myelination process.