The Role of Myelin in Malfunctions of Neuron Transmittance

Abstract

Because of different mechanism of electro-signaling in myelinated axons than in dendrites or unmyelinated axons, the role of the myelin needs to be reconsidered upon new premises in distinction to conventional cable model. It occurs that the latter model is inapplicable for so-called saltatory conduction in myelinated axons and the former imagination on the role of the myelin based on the cable model is confusing. We show how the myelin sheath of axons controls the electro-signaling in myelinated neurons upon a wave-type ionic oscillation model of electro-signaling, ion plasmon-polariton model, in close agreement with observations of the saltatory conduction not reachable within traditional cable model approach. This is of particular importance for better understanding of malfunctions of neuron communication due to demyelination diseases and for the strategy of future therapy methods at paralysis and at demyelination syndromes. The new mechanism of signaling in myelinated neurons is also supported by recent advances in recognition of so-called micro-saltatory conduction in C-fibers of pain sensation, also exceeding the range of applicability of the conventional cable model.

Keywords: myelinated neurons; plasmons; saltatory conduction.