Structure and Growth Behavior of Myelin Figures

Abstract

New morphological features were observed on cross sections of growing myelin figures by use of a scanning electron microscope with cryo-system. Growing internal structures of myelin figures could be observed directly, which were found to be similar to previous estimations made using polarizing optical microscope and X-ray diffraction measurements. However, peculiar growth behavior and structures which could not be observed, using optical and X-ray measurements, could be observed utilizing examination of myelin figure cross sections. The figures' peculiar structures consisted of fused and connected stacked bilayer regions as well as complicated structures which constituted the assembly mechanisms of the bilayers.