Wallerian Degeneration: Morphological and Molecular Changes

Authors: Mehrnaz Moattari, Farahnaz Moattari, Gholamreza Kaka*, Homa Mohseni Kouchesfahani*, Majid Naghdi and Seyed Homayoon Sadraie

DOI: 10.23880/nnoaj-16000125

Volume 3, Issue 2

Abstract

Wallerian degeneration is a process that follows damage to the nerve fiber. Instantly after the initial injury, Wallerian degeneration begins at the distal stump. The axon breaks down, retraction of the myelin sheath happens and the axoplasm is surrounded within ellipsoids of myelin. In respond to loss of axons by disruption of their myelin sheaths, myelin genes are down regulated and Schwann cells dedifferentiated. Schwann cells start multiplying, and macrophages continue to digest debris. By the end of the first week, Schwann cells form a chain within the endoneurium. After about 2 weeks, macrophages disappear, leaving behind endoneurial tubes filled with Schwann cells. Here, we discussed morphological changes and sub cellular events during Wallerian degeneration.

Keywords: Hypoglossal Nerve; Lysosomal Enzymes; Medulla; Catabolic; Chromatolysis; Phenotype; Depolymerization; Schwann Cells; Neurotrophin-3

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