Brianna Laplante

What struck me as interesting during lecture was the discussion on Schwann cells. Schwann cells are a variety of neuroglia that mainly provides myelin insulation to axons in the peripheral nervous system. Schwann cells are named after the German physiologist, Theodore Schwann.

I found some additional information about Schwann cells today. Schwann cells appear under a light microscope when immunostained with an anti-S-100 antibody. Schwann cells begin to form the myelin sheath of mammals during fetal development and work by spiraling around the axon up to 100 revolutions. A well-developed Schwann cells is shaped similarly to a rolled up sheet of paper with layers of myelin between each coil. Many recent experimental studies are implanting Schwann cells into patients with multiple sclerosis to try to induce remyelination. In addition to creating myelin sheaths in the PNS, Schwann cells also aid in cleaning up of debris in PNS and guide the regrowth of PNS axons. Pretty cool!