Malnutrition and myelin structure: an X-ray scattering study of rat sciatic and optic nerves

Taking advantage of the fast and accurate X-ray scattering techniques recen tly developed in our laboratory, we tackled the study of the structural alt erations induced in myelin by malnutrition. Our work was performed on sciat ic and optic nerves dissected from rats fed with either a normal or a low-p rotein caloric diet, as a function of age (from birth to 60 days). By way o f electrophysiological controls we also measured (on the sciatic nerves) th e height and velocity of the compound action potential. Malnutrition was fo und to decrease the amount of myelin and to impair the packing order of the membranes in the sheaths.