Nearest-neighbor Distance of Intermediate Filaments in Axons and Schwann Cells. Distinction Between Axons and Schwann Cell Processes in the Denervated and Reinnervated Peripheral Nerves

To distinguish axons from Schwann cell processes in the denervated (Büngner's bands) and reinnervated peripheral nerves, the nearest-neighbor distance of intermediate filaments (NND) was measured in axons and Schwann cells from denervated and subsequent regenerating peripheral nerves. It was revealed that the NND was much larger in regenerating axons (41.9 +/- 14.1 nm) than in Schwann cell processes (23.1 +/- 7.1 nm in regeneration and 19.7 +/- 5.8 nm in denervation). In addition, the NND was also measured in the normal adult and developing peripheral nerves, and it became clear that in all cases the NND in axons (29.0-41.9 nm) was larger than in Schwann cells (19.7-23.1 nm). Thus, it can be generally considered that the NND is larger in axons than in Schwann cells. This fact can be used for the distinction between axons and Schwann cell processes, when the latter have a profile similar to that of the former as in Büngner's bands and in the regenerating nerves.