Effects of aging on numbers, sizes and conduction velocities of myelinated and unmyelinated fibers of the pelvic nerve in rats.

The effects of aging on the conduction velocities, numbers and sizes of the myelinated and unmyelinated fibers of the pelvic nerve in Wistar rats, aged 3-9 and 30-37 months were examined using electrophysiological and ultrastructural techniques. The myelinated fibers did not show significant age-related changes in the maximum conduction velocities (9.7 +/- 1.1 m/s in adult vs. 11.0 +/- 1.5 m/s in aged rats), the number of fibers (662 +/- 27 vs. 625 +/- 56) and distribution of fiber diameters. In aged rats, the unmyelinated fibers did not show a significant change in maximum conduction velocity (1.5 +/- 0.1 m/s vs. 1.5 +/- 0.1 m/s), but showed a significant decrease in the number of fibers (4133 +/- 114 vs. 3113 +/- 456), specifically of fibers smaller than 0.7 microm in diameter. It is concluded that myelinated fibers of the pelvic nerve in rats preserve their conduction ability and fiber population during aging, but unmyelinated fibers, particularly fibers with smaller diameters decrease in number. Unmyelinated fibers with larger diameters maintain their conduction ability and numbers with aging.