Major
Biology
Anticipated Graduation Year
2026
Access Type
Open Access
Abstract
Demyelination disorders impair nerve signal conduction by reducing myelin, particularly at the nodes of Ranvier, leading to motor deficits. To model peripheral nerve demyelination, we performed partial ligation of the sciatic nerve in C57BL/6J mice, monitoring them via immunohistochemistry, TEM imaging, and behavioral tests over 14 days. We observed decreased myelin basic protein, reduced neurofilament levels, and thinner myelin layers. Behavioral deficits emerged as early as day 3. These findings establish a reproducible model correlating molecular, structural, and functional deficits, paving the way for targeted therapeutic strategies aimed at restoring nerve conduction in demyelinating disorders.
Faculty Mentors & Instructors
Yanan Chen, MD PhD, Biology; Hui Ye, PhD, Biology
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.
Characterization of Peripheral Nerve Demyelination Model
Demyelination disorders impair nerve signal conduction by reducing myelin, particularly at the nodes of Ranvier, leading to motor deficits. To model peripheral nerve demyelination, we performed partial ligation of the sciatic nerve in C57BL/6J mice, monitoring them via immunohistochemistry, TEM imaging, and behavioral tests over 14 days. We observed decreased myelin basic protein, reduced neurofilament levels, and thinner myelin layers. Behavioral deficits emerged as early as day 3. These findings establish a reproducible model correlating molecular, structural, and functional deficits, paving the way for targeted therapeutic strategies aimed at restoring nerve conduction in demyelinating disorders.