Effect of elastic properties of the crab axon sheath on the movement of nerve fibers at the action potential

: The shear modulus (nu) of single giant axon of the crab Carcinus maenas was determined by measuring the axon elastic stretching up to 1-10%. The value obtained for nu (5-7 X 10(3) dn X cm) is more than that for sheaths of reptilian and mammalian red blood cells by 10(4)-10(6) times. Proteolysis of the axon sheath by pronase solution (2 mg/ml, 15-20 min) increases the amplitude of axon movement at the action potential by 8-10 times. It is suggested that the collagen fibers, Schwann's and connective cells are passive structures of the axon sheath, and that potential-depend axon movement at the action potential is due to deformation of the axolemma and submembrane layer.