Studies on optic nerve of Lipotes vexillifer-structure, fiber count and diameter spectrum

Four optic nerves obtained from two Lipotes Vexillifer have been studied with the aid of electron microscope. The fiber diameter spectra of all the four optic nerves are unimodal. The diameters of fibers range from 0.35 to 7.45 microns with the highest frequency at 1.5 microns. T test indicates there is no significant difference in fiber density and fiber diameter between the central and peripheral regions of the optic nerve. The ratio of axon diameter to the total fiber diameter is 0.6 +/- 0.02 (p less than 0.05). The examination of four optic nerves indicates a mean count of 78,900 fibers; none of unmyelinated fibers have been seen. The shapes of the cross sections of fibers are very irregular. The myelin sheaths of some nerve fibers are very thick while those of some others are thinner.