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Rapid Conduction and the Evolution of Giant Axons and Myelinated Fibers
Open accessAbstract
Nervous systems have evolved two basic mechanisms for increasing the conduction speed of the electrical impulse. The first is through axon gigantism: using axons several times larger in diameter than the norm for other large axons, as for example in the well-known case of the squid giant axon. The second is through encasing axons in helical or concentrically wrapped multilamellar sheets of insulating plasma membrane--the myelin sheath. Each mechanism, alone or in combination, is employed in nervous systems of many taxa, both vertebrate and invertebrate. Myelin is a unique way to increase conduction speeds along axons of relatively small caliber. It seems to have arisen independently in evolution several times in vertebrates, annelids and crustacea. Myelinated nerves, regardless of their source, have in common a multilamellar membrane wrapping, and long myelinated segments interspersed with 'nodal' loci where the myelin terminates and the nerve impulse propagates along the axon by 'saltatory' conduction. For all of the differences in detail among the morphologies and biochemistries of the sheath in the different myelinated animal classes, the function is remarkably universal.
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“Myelination enables rapid action potential conduction, provides essential trophic support to axons, and is required for learning, memory, and cognition.2,3,4,5”
From Neurons sequester the cholesterol-inhibiting TFEB in oligodendrocyte cytoplasm to safeguard myelination and neural function (2025) · cites this paper as [2]
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“Furthermore, within the peripheral nervous system, different nerve fibers conduct action potentials at different speeds [23], and variable frequency and duration [24], which can affect their tolerance to electrical stimulation regimes.”
From Safety of long-term electrical peripheral nerve stimulation: review of the state of the art (2019) · cites this paper as [23]
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“Unmyelinated axons have higher energetic costs of maintaining action potentials than myelinated axons (Hartline and Colman, 2007) and are thus more vulnerable to changes in energy supply (Nave et al., 2023).”
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“Myelin is formed by OLs in the CNS, whereby compact lipid-rich lamellae are wrapped around axons for proper axonal conduction [7].”
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“…neurons is considered unusual (Boullerne 2016; Hartline and Colman 2007; Roots 1984); however, the presence of myelin has previously been reported in a variety of invertebrate organisms (Hartline and Colman 2007), including crustaceans that are closely related to arachnids (Davis et al. 1999).”
Metadata
- Authors
- Hartline, D. K., & Colman, D. R.
- Affiliations
- University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (US)
- Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital (CA)
- Corresponding author
- Hartline, D.K.
- ORCID
- Colman, D.R.
- Venue
- Current Biology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2007-01
- Volume
- 17
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- R29-R35
- ISSN
- 0960-9822 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2129836920
- Cited by
- 478
- References
- 42
- Citations by year
- 2026: 15 · 2025: 28 · 2024: 25 · 2023: 22 · 2022: 24 · 2021: 35 · 2020: 28 · 2019: 38 · 2018: 21 · 2017: 32 · 2016: 37 · 2015: 22 · 2014: 25 · 2013: 33 · 2012: 21
- FWCI
- 1.28
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Current Biology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Ion channel regulation and function
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Developmental Neuroscience › Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
- Keywords
- myelination, myelinated axons, saltatory conduction, squid giant axon, nodal regions, invertebrate nervous system, vertebrate nervous system, Annelida, Crustacea
- MeSH terms
- Action Potentials, Animals, Axons, Cell Adhesion, Biological Evolution, Nerve Fibers, Myelinated, Neural Conduction
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