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Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America logoLink to Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
. 1972 May;69(5):1309–1312. doi: 10.1073/pnas.69.5.1309

Neuronal Dynamics and Axonal Flow: Axonal Peristalsis*

Paul A Weiss 1
PMCID: PMC426688  PMID: 4113866

Abstract

By time-lapse, phase-contrast cinemicrography of sensory nerve fibers of young mice, isolated with their originating spinal ganglia in nutrient solution, the postulated peristaltic surface drive of the cellulifugal propulsion of the semisolid axonal column at a rate of the order of 1 mm/day (1 μm/min) could be verified and quantitatively analyzed. The pulse waves follow each other at about 30-min intervals, regardless of whether the continuity of the axon is preserved or disrupted by degenerative fragmentation. Even when the axonal flow is obstructed, surface peristalsis continues.

Keywords: time-lapse phase-contrast cinemicrography

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Selected References

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

  1. Weiss P. A. Neuronal dynamics and axonal flow. V. The semisolid state of the moving axonal column. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1972 Mar;69(3):620–623. doi: 10.1073/pnas.69.3.620. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
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