Cation binding at the node of Ranvier in biopsied peripheral nerves of patients with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 1A and hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsies

The node of Ranvier in myelinated fibers is known to have an affinity to bind cations. Demyelination and remyelination due to abnormal expression of a myelin protein may affect cation binding or vice versa under pathological conditions. To study the cation binding at the node of Ranvier in inherited demyelinating neuropathies associated with over- and under-expression of the peripheral myelin protein 22 (PMP-22), the reaction with ferric ion and ferrocyanide was used to visualize the cation binding sites in biopsied nerves of four patiens with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 1A (CMT1A) and two patients with hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsies (HNPP), and the results were compared with those of four patients having acquired neuropathies with normal PMP-22 expression. In CMT1A, nodal widening or paranodal demyelination was associated with dense precipitates focally on both sides of the widened node. Although fainter precipitates were present at the node between remyelinated internodes, the percentage of nodes exhibiting the reaction product between normal and remyelinated internodes was not statistically different from that between normal internodes in CMT1A. In acquired neuropathies, on the other hand, the difference was significant between the two (P < 0.05), with reduction between normal and remyelinated internodes. At the nodes neighboring demylinated internodes, the percentage of nodes exhibiting the reaction product was reduced significantly in both CMT1A and acquired neuropathies, but to a lesser degree in CMT1A. Precipitates were clearly seen at the nodes neighboring a tomaculum in HNPP. The results suggest that preserved cation binding at the node may allow nerves to keep the electrical excitability in CMT1A and HNPP where myelin remodeling takes place at high frequency. Received: 6 June 1995 / Revised: 28 September 1995 / Revised, accepted: 29 November 1995