ABSTRACT
Studies during the last decades have focused on the intricate structure of myelinated axons, mainly by exploring the buildup, development, maturation and, eventual their degradation in genetically modifi ed mice. Thanks to increasingly fi ne and revealing techniques in biochemistry, biophysics and micro-imaging we are now in possession of a completely new picture and thorough knowledge of many fi ne details for the structure of myelinated axons (Kirschner and Caspar 1972, Kirschner et al. 1984, Quarles et al. 2006, Zu Hörste and Nave 2006, Heredia et al. 2007, Douglas and Popko 2009, McGregor et al. 2010, Dučić et al. 2011). Since this book goes in a slightly different direction, we will not present the subject in great depth. Instead, we will review the general principles and gross outcome of accumulated knowledge for myelinated axons, diagnostics and differentiation between several forms of demyelination.
