Paranodal myelin retraction in protein deficient and normal rats: a morphometric study

Young rats, submitted to severe protein restriction were studied concerning the width of inter-myelin gaps at the nodes of Ranvier in peripheral nerve fibres. The results gave no proof of increased paranodal myelin retraction in lumbar spinal roots or the sciatic nerves of low-protein rats. Malnourished rats as well as controls showed great interindividual differences as to the presence of nodes with wide inter-myelin gaps.