Dischroism of the infrared spectrum of nerve.

Infrared spectra were obtained from the sciatic and optic nerves of the frog (Rana sp.) and the trigeminal and olfactory nerves of the garfish (Lepisosteus osseus). The myelinated nerves showed dichroism at several absorption peaks, particularly 1,220-1,230 cm(-1), but the nonmyelinated nerves showed little or no dichroism. The dichroic peaks indicate that in myelinated nerve, there is an ordered arrangement of protein and lipid molecules which was not found in nonmyelinated nerve.