Effects of cold and melatonin on the microtubules of the toad sciatic nerve

The effects of melatonin and cooling on the disintegration and reassembly of microtubules were studied in the sciatic nerve of the toad. Control and melatonin‐treated nerves showed disintegration of the majority of microtubules after 2 hours of cooling. When room temperature was restored, microtubules were reformed in the controls, but not in the nerves treated by melatonin where the disorganization persisted. These results demonstrate that melatonin interferes with the microtubular reassembly after cooling of the axons of the sciatic nerve.