ISSN:
1432-0878
Keywords:
Flight muscle
;
Denervation
;
Peripheral Wallerian degeneration
;
Metamorphic axon degeneration
;
Antheraea (Lepidoptera)
;
Trophic action
;
Ultrastructure
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
Notes:
Summary In the moth Antheraea polyphemus the innervation of the anlage of the dorsolongitudinal flight muscle (dlm) was transected at the onset of adult development. The subsequent breakdown of the isolated motor stumps during early adult development was studied at the ultrastructural level. First reactions are seen on the second day of development when axonal mitochondria shrink. Later, elongated vesicles similar in structure to channels of smooth ER, appear in large numbers in the axoplasm. Their nature as well as the functional aspects of early axonal changes are discussed. From the 7th day onward two types of axonal breakdown become prominent. The first is characterized by swelling axon profiles, distorted vesicles and strongly shrunken mitochondria, while shrinking axon profiles containing tightly packed mitochondria and unaltered vesicles are typical of the second. Both types presumably take place independently of each other in different axon terminals. Axons and the contents of at least the first type are finally removed by transformation into lamellar bodies. Glial processes obviously behave independently of degenerating terminals; they loose any contact with them and never act as phagocytes for axon remnants. During the whole period of breakdown undifferentiated contacts between nerve fibers and muscle anlagen are present but synaptic structures as in normal developing dlm have never been observed. This fact, in comparison with earlier studies, suggests a lack of trophic nervous activity on the muscle anlagen tissue. A short time after removal of the isolated stumps new nerve tracts appear between dlm-fibers (which are, of course, strongly retarded in development). They are presumably sensory wing nerves which lack a guide structure to the central target, due to axotomy. Neuromuscular contacts or even junctions formed by axons of these nerves have occasionally been detected on the dlm. Their nature is discussed. Wallerian axon degeneration is compared to the normal, metamorphic breakdown of the innervation of the larval dlm-precursor. In contrast to the former, glial processes here remain in contact with the terminals. Glia and axons first swell. Then most glial processes are transformed into lamellar bodies whereas neuntes shrink and become electron-dense. Axonal organelles remain intact for a long period.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00223013
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