Growth rate of myelin figures of egg-yolk phosphatidylcholine.

The growth length of myelin figures was measured in detail using a video tape recording system of optical microscopy. In the beginning stage of growth, the growth process was not adapted to the diffusion-limited process of lipid molecules, which has been recently proposed. Another interpretation for the growth mechanism was proposed, where the growth results from swelling. The initial growth rate measured was in good agreement with the estimated value in consideration with the water flux in the first approximation of the lipid concentration gradient.