Skip to main content
Biophysical Journal logoLink to Biophysical Journal
. 1978 Feb;21(2):147–160. doi: 10.1016/S0006-3495(78)85515-5

Simulations of conduction in uniform myelinated fibers. Relative sensitivity to changes in nodal and internodal parameters.

J W Moore, R W Joyner, M H Brill, S D Waxman, M Najar-Joa
PMCID: PMC1473353  PMID: 623863

Abstract

Conduction of impulses in myelinated axons has been studied by a new method of computer simulation. The contributions of nodal and internodal characteristics and parameters were examined. Surprisingly, the conduction velocity, theta, was found to be quite insensitive to the nodal area or the exact description of its excitable processes. The conduction velocity also is relatively insensitive to the internodal length but much more sensitive to the myelin capacitance and axoplasm conductance. Qualitative change in theta with temperature depended on which temperature-sensitive parameters were included in the simulation.

Full text

PDF
147

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Brill M. H., Waxman S. G., Moore J. W., Joyner R. W. Conduction velocity and spike configuration in myelinated fibres: computed dependence on internode distance. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1977 Aug;40(8):769–774. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.40.8.769. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Cooley J. W., Dodge F. A., Jr Digital computer solutions for excitation and propagation of the nerve impulse. Biophys J. 1966 Sep;6(5):583–599. doi: 10.1016/S0006-3495(66)86679-1. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Dun F. T. The length and diameter of the node of Ranvier. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng. 1970 Jan;17(1):21–24. doi: 10.1109/tbme.1970.4502680. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. FITZHUGH R. Computation of impulse initiation and saltatory conduction in a myelinated nerve fiber. Biophys J. 1962 Jan;2:11–21. doi: 10.1016/s0006-3495(62)86837-4. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. FRANKENHAEUSER B., HUXLEY A. F. THE ACTION POTENTIAL IN THE MYELINATED NERVE FIBER OF XENOPUS LAEVIS AS COMPUTED ON THE BASIS OF VOLTAGE CLAMP DATA. J Physiol. 1964 Jun;171:302–315. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1964.sp007378. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. FRANKENHAEUSER B., MOORE L. E. THE SPECIFICITY OF THE INITIAL CURRENT IN MYELINATED NERVE FIBRES OF XENOPUS LAEVIS. VOLTAGE CLAMP EXPERIMENTS. J Physiol. 1963 Nov;169:438–444. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1963.sp007270. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. FRANKENHAEUSER B., WALTMAN B. Membrane resistance and conduction velocity of large myelinated nerve fibres from Xenopus laevis. J Physiol. 1959 Oct;148:677–682. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1959.sp006317. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. FitzHugh R. Dimensional analysis of nerve models. J Theor Biol. 1973 Aug 22;40(3):517–541. doi: 10.1016/0022-5193(73)90008-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Goldman L., Albus J. S. Computation of impulse conduction in myelinated fibers; theoretical basis of the velocity-diameter relation. Biophys J. 1968 May;8(5):596–607. doi: 10.1016/S0006-3495(68)86510-5. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. HODGKIN A. L., HUXLEY A. F. A quantitative description of membrane current and its application to conduction and excitation in nerve. J Physiol. 1952 Aug;117(4):500–544. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1952.sp004764. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. HUXLEY A. F. Ion movements during nerve activity. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1959 Aug 28;81:221–246. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1959.tb49311.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Hardy W. L. Propagation speed in myelinated nerve. I. Experimental dependence on external Na and on temperature. Biophys J. 1973 Oct;13(10):1054–1070. doi: 10.1016/S0006-3495(73)86045-X. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Hardy W. L. Propagation speed in myelinated nerve. II. Theoretical dependence on external Na and on temperature. Biophys J. 1973 Oct;13(10):1071–1089. doi: 10.1016/S0006-3495(73)86046-1. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Hutchinson N. A., Koles Z. J., Smith R. S. Conduction velocity in myelinated nerve fibres of Xenopus laevis. J Physiol. 1970 Jun;208(2):279–289. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1970.sp009119. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Koles Z. J., Rasminsky M. A computer simulation of conduction in demyelinated nerve fibres. J Physiol. 1972 Dec;227(2):351–364. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1972.sp010036. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Meszler R. M., Pappas G. D., Bennett V. L. Morphology of the electromotor system in the spinal cord of the electric eel, Electrophorus electricus. J Neurocytol. 1974 Jun;3(2):251–261. doi: 10.1007/BF01098392. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Moore J. W., Ramon F. On numerical integration of the Hodgkin and Huxley equations for a membrane action potential. J Theor Biol. 1974 May;45(1):249–273. doi: 10.1016/0022-5193(74)90054-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Ramón F., Joyner R. W., Moore J. W. Propagation of action potentials in inhomogeneous axon regions. Fed Proc. 1975 Apr;34(5):1357–1363. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Schauf C. L., Davis F. A. Impulse conduction in multiple sclerosis: a theoretical basis for modification by temperature and pharmacological agents. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1974 Feb;37(2):152–161. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.37.2.152. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Smith R. S., Koles Z. J. Myelinated nerve fibers: computed effect of myelin thickness on conduction velocity. Am J Physiol. 1970 Nov;219(5):1256–1258. doi: 10.1152/ajplegacy.1970.219.5.1256. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Waxman S. G. Integrative properties and design principles of axons. Int Rev Neurobiol. 1975;18:1–40. doi: 10.1016/s0074-7742(08)60032-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Waxman S. G., Melker R. J. Closely spaced nodes of Ranvier in the mammalian brain. Brain Res. 1971 Sep 24;32(2):445–448. doi: 10.1016/0006-8993(71)90337-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Biophysical Journal are provided here courtesy of The Biophysical Society

RESOURCES