Figure 5.

Neurofilamentous axonopathy produced by carbon disulfide released from N,N-diethyldithiocarbamate following oral administration in the muscular branch of the posterior tibial nerve of a rat. (a) Transverse section of large and small myelinated axons obtained from a control animal showing the normal thickness of compact myelin relative to axon diameter and the density and distribution of cytoskeletal components. (b) Transverse section of a myelinated axon present in a treated animal. There is a high density of disorganized neurofilaments in the swollen axon compared to the orderly distribution and alignment in the normal axon. Additionally the myelin is thin and there is sequestering of organelles to the periphery. (c) Teased fiber from a control animal showing a constant diameter and even myelin staining along the internode. A node of Ranvier (arrow) is present and Schmidt-Lanterman incisures (arrowheads) are distributed along the axon. (d) Teased fiber from a treated animal showing the presence of fusiform swellings.