Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Article
  • Published:

Contraction, Turgor and the Cytoskeleton of Nerve Fibres

Abstract

A STRETCH of nerve fibre which has been cut off from its cell body degenerates and disappears. There must, therefore, be some influence emanating from the cell body and nucleus which normally maintains the integrity of the axon. Two facts which throw light on the nature of this influence are that (1) during degeneration the isolated portion contracts and forms folds and spirals; (2) the central portion swells as if under the influence of a turgor pressure.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Bear, R. S., Schmitt, F. O., and Young, J. Z., Proc. Roy. Soc. Lond., B, 123, 496 (1937).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Richards, A. G., Burn-Steinbach, J. H., and Anderson, T. F., J. Cell. and Comp. Physiol., 21, 129 (1943).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Young, J. Z., Proc. Roy. Soc., B, 121, 319 (1936).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. Schmitt, F. O., and Wade, L. J., Amer. J. Physiol., 111, 159 (1936).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Parker, G. H., Amer. Nat., 63, 97 (1929).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Guttmann, L., and Medawar, P. B., J. Neurol. Psychiatr., 5, 130 (1942).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Weiss, P., Anal. Rec., 86, 491 (1943).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Gutmann, E., and Sanders, F. K., J. Physiol., 101, 489 (1943).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Speidel, C. C., J. Exp. Zool., 61, 279 (1932).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Langmuir, I., J. Chem. Phys., 6, 873 (1938).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Bernal, J. D., and Fankuchen, I., J. Gen. Physiol., 25, 111 (1941).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Waugh, D. F., Proc. Amer. Physiol. Soc., 133, 484 (1941).

    Google Scholar 

  13. Hardy, W. B., J. Chem. Soc. (1925).

  14. Howe, H., and Bodian, D., "Neural Mechanisms in Poliomyelitis" (New York and London, 1942).

    Google Scholar 

  15. Gerard, R. W., Science, 79 (Suppl.), 20 (1934).

    Google Scholar 

  16. Hardy, W. B., J. Gen. Physiol., 8, 641 (1927).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Danielli, J. F., "Cytology and Cell Physiology", edited by G. Bourne (Oxford, 1942).

    Google Scholar 

  18. Gersh, I., and Bodian, D., J. Cell. and Comp. Physiol., 21, 253 (1943).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Caspersson, T., J. Roy. Micro. Soc., 60, 8 (1940).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Hyden, H., Acta Physiol. Scandinav., 6 (1943).

  21. Peters, R. A., Harben Lectures, J. State Medicine, 37, 638 (1929).

    Google Scholar 

  22. Needham, J., "Order and Life" (Cambridge, 1936).

    Google Scholar 

  23. Schmitt, F. O., Third Growth Symposium (1) (1941).

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

YOUNG, J. Contraction, Turgor and the Cytoskeleton of Nerve Fibres. Nature 153, 333–335 (1944). https://doi.org/10.1038/153333a0

Download citation

  • Issue date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/153333a0

This article is cited by

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing