Quantitation of the physicochemical properties of myelin using Nile Red fluorescence spectroscopy.

ABSTRACT: Myelin is a vital structure that is key to rapid saltatory conduction in the central and peripheral nervous systems. Much work has been done over the decades examining the biochemical composition and morphology of myelin at the light and electron microscopic levels. Here we report a method to study myelin based on the fluorescent probe Nile Red. This lipophilic dye readily partitions into live and chemicallyfixed myelin producing bright, well-resolved images of the sheath. Using spectral confocal microscopy, a complete emission spectrum of Nile Red fluorescence can be acquired for each pixel in an image. The solvatochromic properties of Nile Red cause its emission spectrum to change depending on the polarity of its local environment. Therefore, measuring spectral shifts can report subtle c

SUBMITTER: Teo W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11657930 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature