The role of water in the structure of peripheral nerve myelin

Abstract

In the study of the drying kinetics of nerve fibres, at least five "phases" of water evaporation can be distinguished. A consideration of the accompanying changes in low-angle x-ray diffraction patterns permits a tentative identification of the "phases" and a quantitative interpretation of the data in terms of the water distribution in nerve fibres. These results suggest that the myelin sheath of frog sciatic nerve contains 40 to 50 per cent water, and it is suggested further that the greater part of this water is "organised" in relation to the hydrophilic groups of the lipide and protein components.