EFFECTS OF CATIONS ON ISOLATED BOVINE OPTIC NERVE MYELIN

Abstract— Myelin fragments were isolated from bovine optic nerves and then exposed to solutions of NaCl, CaCl2, LaCl3 or to water. Measurements of the water content of myelin pellets and the hydrophobicity of myelin fragments indicated an apparent isoelectric point at about pH 4.0 which increased with increasing membrane counterion valence. The exposure of myelin to CaCl2 and LaCl3 solutions for 1 hr removed relatively more cholesterol and galactolipid than protein or phospholipid. The same changes were observed after 12 days of storage in all four solutions. Myelin ultrastructure was evaluated by electron microscopy after positive and negative staining. No pronounced changes in myelin ultra‐structure were seen after exposure to any of these solutions although extensive beading of the lamellae was observed and the magnitude of the major period was greater than that reported for native myelin. While differences in the physical properties of myelin after exposure to Na+, Ca++, or La+++ ions could be explained by considering the fixed charge shielding capabilities of these cations, changes of state of the membrane infrastructure could not be ruled out. At pH values above 4.0 myelin fragments behaved like a cation exchange system. Copyright © 1969, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved