Macrophage-mediated myelin stripping in DM-induced demyelinating plaque. (a) A macrophage (upper portion of the figure) is observed surrounding an intact axon (lower portion of the figure) with uncompacted myelin. Myelin figures are observed within the cytoplasm of this macrophage indicative of prior engulfment of myelin. (b) Higher magnification demonstrates close apposition of the macrophage cell membrane and an outer layer of uncompacted myelin. The axoplasm and axolemma are intact and the adjacent myelin shows vesiculation indicative of myelin degeneration. Original magnification for (a) is 15,000x and for (b) is 40,000x. (adapted from the work of [73]).
