The myelination of axons by oligodendrocytes profoundly affects central nervous system function, but how this is regulated by neuronal activity in vivo is not known. Here we find that blocking synaptic vesicle release impairs CNS myelination by reducing the number of myelin sheaths made by individual oligodendrocytes during their short period of formation. We also find that stimulating neuronal activity increases myelin sheath formation by individual oligodendrocytes. These data show that neuronal activity regulates the myelinating capacity of single oligodendrocytes.
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