Axonal constriction at Ranvier's node increases during development.

We have studied the ratio between the nodal and the internodal diameter (the dn/d(in) ratio) of large myelinated axons in the L7 ventral spinal root of the cat during pre- and postnatal development using light and electron microscopy. A substantial nodal constriction, dn/d(in) = 0.6, was found at the beginning of myelination, about 2 weeks before birth. The ratio decreased during the subsequent 10 weeks and approached the adult value of 0.47 (SE 0.01, N = 45) in the 8 weeks old kitten. The observations are discussed with respect to the maturation of the nodal region and to our earlier idea that the constricted nodal axon segments of large peripheral myelinated nerve fibres of adult cats and kittens 2 months and more of age are sites capable of interacting with and perhaps even controlling the passage of axonally transported materials.