Polarity orientations of microtubules in squid and lobster axons.

Polarity orientations of microtubules in periaxolemmal and internal regions of squid and lobster axons were determined in order to test the hypothesis that regional differences in particle transport are produced by differentially distributed microtubule subclasses. Over 95% of the microtubules in all regions of the axons investigated were oriented with plus ends located distally, pointing away from axonal somata, and there were no significant differences in orientation ratios in periaxolemmal and internal axoplasm. In axonal sheath glial cells of lobsters, microtubules were found to be oriented parallel to axonal microtubules and to have approximately equally mixed polarities. The results for axonal microtubules did not support the possibility of subclasses of axonal microtubules.