IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/nat/natcom/v6y2015i1d10.1038_ncomms9073.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Tuning of Ranvier node and internode properties in myelinated axons to adjust action potential timing

Author

Listed:
  • Marc C. Ford

    (Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich
    Physiology and Pharmacology, University College London)

  • Olga Alexandrova

    (Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich)

  • Lee Cossell

    (Physiology and Pharmacology, University College London)

  • Annette Stange-Marten

    (Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich)

  • James Sinclair

    (Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich)

  • Conny Kopp-Scheinpflug

    (Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich)

  • Michael Pecka

    (Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich)

  • David Attwell

    (Physiology and Pharmacology, University College London)

  • Benedikt Grothe

    (Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich)

Abstract

Action potential timing is fundamental to information processing; however, its determinants are not fully understood. Here we report unexpected structural specializations in the Ranvier nodes and internodes of auditory brainstem axons involved in sound localization. Myelination properties deviated significantly from the traditionally assumed structure. Axons responding best to low-frequency sounds had a larger diameter than high-frequency axons but, surprisingly, shorter internodes. Simulations predicted that this geometry helps to adjust the conduction velocity and timing of action potentials within the circuit. Electrophysiological recordings in vitro and in vivo confirmed higher conduction velocities in low-frequency axons. Moreover, internode length decreased and Ranvier node diameter increased progressively along the distal axon segments, which simulations show was essential to ensure precisely timed depolarization of the giant calyx of Held presynaptic terminal. Thus, individual anatomical parameters of myelinated axons can be tuned to optimize pathways involved in temporal processing.

Suggested Citation

  • Marc C. Ford & Olga Alexandrova & Lee Cossell & Annette Stange-Marten & James Sinclair & Conny Kopp-Scheinpflug & Michael Pecka & David Attwell & Benedikt Grothe, 2015. "Tuning of Ranvier node and internode properties in myelinated axons to adjust action potential timing," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 6(1), pages 1-14, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:6:y:2015:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms9073
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms9073
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms9073
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1038/ncomms9073?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Jenea M. Bin & Daumante Suminaite & Silvia K. Benito-Kwiecinski & Linde Kegel & Maria Rubio-Brotons & Jason J. Early & Daniel Soong & Matthew R. Livesey & Richard J. Poole & David A. Lyons, 2024. "Importin 13-dependent axon diameter growth regulates conduction speeds along myelinated CNS axons," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-19, December.
    2. Alberto Lazari & Piergiorgio Salvan & Lennart Verhagen & Michiel Cottaar & Daniel Papp & Olof Jens van der Werf & Bronwyn Gavine & James Kolasinski & Matthew Webster & Charlotte J. Stagg & Matthew F. , 2022. "A macroscopic link between interhemispheric tract myelination and cortico-cortical interactions during action reprogramming," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-12, December.
    3. Mable Lam & Koji Takeo & Rafael G. Almeida & Madeline H. Cooper & Kathryn Wu & Manasi Iyer & Husniye Kantarci & J. Bradley Zuchero, 2022. "CNS myelination requires VAMP2/3-mediated membrane expansion in oligodendrocytes," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-21, December.
    4. Yide Zhang & Binglin Shen & Tong Wu & Jerry Zhao & Joseph C. Jing & Peng Wang & Kanomi Sasaki-Capela & William G. Dunphy & David Garrett & Konstantin Maslov & Weiwei Wang & Lihong V. Wang, 2022. "Ultrafast and hypersensitive phase imaging of propagating internodal current flows in myelinated axons and electromagnetic pulses in dielectrics," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-12, December.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:6:y:2015:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms9073. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.nature.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.