The DOI matches its Crossref record; 41 of the 42 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
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]
In the citing paper
“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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Cites
Axonal Neuregulin-1 Regulates Myelin Sheath Thickness
Michailov, G. V., Sereda, M. W., Brinkmann, B. G., Fischer, T. M., Haug, B., Birchmeier, C., Role, L. W., Lai, C., Schwab, M. H., & Nave, K. (2004) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.1095862 · Cited by 940
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Cited by
Sorted by citations
Remyelination in the CNS: from biology to therapy
Franklin, R. J. M., & ffrench-Constant, C. (2008) · Nature Reviews Neuroscience · doi:10.1038/nrn2480 · Cited by 1,544
“Insects such as Drosophila melanogaster do not have myelinated axon”
BackgroundThe nature of feelings: evolutionary and neurobiological origins
Damasio, A., & Carvalho, G. B. (2013) · Nature Reviews Neuroscience · doi:10.1038/nrn3403 · Cited by 1,280
Myelination of the Nervous System: Mechanisms and Functions
Nave, K.-A., & Werner, H. B. (2014) · Annual Review of Cell and Developmental Biology · doi:10.1146/annurev-cellbio-100913-013101 · Cited by 983
Axon-Glial Signaling and the Glial Support of Axon Function
Nave, K., & Trapp, B. D. (2008) · Annual Review of Neuroscience · doi:10.1146/annurev.neuro.30.051606.094309 · Cited by 664
“In fact, spiral membrane ensheathment of axonal segments with ion channel clustering at node-like structures has been independently developed in vertebrates and several invertebrate clades (Davis et al. 1999, Schweigreiter et al. 2006, Hartline & Colman 2007).”
BackgroundChittka, L., & Niven, J. (2009) · Current Biology · doi:10.1016/j.cub.2009.08.023 · Cited by 598
“Insects lack myelin, though it is present in other arthropods [96], and increased conduction velocity is achieved solely through increased axon diameters.”
Background
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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