Biochemical subtypes of oligodendrocyte in the anterior medullary velum of the rat as revealed by the monoclonal antibody rip

Abstract

Oligodendrocytes were studied in the anterior medullary velum (AMV) of the rat using the monoclonal antibody Rip, an oligodendrocyte marker of unknown function. Confocal microscopic imaging of double immunofluorescent labelling with antibodies to Rip and carbonic anhydrase II (CAII) revealed two biochemically and morphologically distinct populations of oligodendrocyte which were either Rip+CAII+ or Rip+CAII-. Double immunofluorescent labelling with Rip and myelin basic protein (MBP) or glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) provided direct evidence that Rip-labelled cells were phenotypically oligodendrocytes and confirmed that Rip did not recognise astrocytes. Oligodendrocytes which were Rip+CAII+ supported numerous myelin sheaths for small diameter axons, whilst Rip+CAII- oligodendrocytes supported fewer myelin sheaths for large diameter axons. Morphologically, Rip+CAII+ oligodendrocytes corresponded to types I or II of classical nomenclature, whilst Rip+CAII- oligodendrocytes corresponded to types III and IV. The results demonstrated a biochemical difference between oligodendrocytes which myelinated small and large diameter fibres.

A neuropathological analysis of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis with predominant brain stem and cerebellar involvement and differences between active and passive induction

“…One possibility is that the target antigen, PLP [190][191][192][193][194][195][196][197][198][199][200][201][202][203][204][205][206][207][208][209] , varies in its distribution or accessibility within the CNS. Although it is known that PLP is distributed throughout CNS myelin, there is evidence that oligodendrocytes that myelinate different regions of the CNS can originate at different times during development [32] and that the biochemical and physical properties of oligodendrocytes differ, depending on where they are situated in the CNS [3,18]. Another possibility is that the C3H/HeJ strain of mice differs from other strains in the concentration of professional antigen-presenting cells or in the expression of major histocompatibility complex molecules in certain areas.…”

Proteolipid Protein Regulates the Survival and Differentiation of Oligodendrocytes

“…The identification of biochemically distinct subpopulations of OLs recently detected in the brain corresponds to Del Rio-Hortega's morphological description of subtypes of OLs (Del Rio-Hortega, 1928). In one study (Butt et al, 1995), OLs that myelinated larger-diametered axons were carbonic anhydrasenegative. These thicker myelin sheaths are intensely fluorescent for MBP but very weakly fluorescent or negative for PLP (Hartman et al, 1982), suggesting that PLP plays less of a role than MBP in maintaining thick sheaths.…”

Subcortical ischemic vascular disease: Roles of oligodendrocyte function in experimental models of subcortical white-matter injury

“…79 Besides through soluble factors, direct cellcell signaling via gap junctions may also be relevant 80 because astrocytes are found in close apposition to oligodendrocytes in vivo. 81 In fact, astrocytes can attenuate oligodendrocyte death through an alpha6 integrin-laminin-dependent mechanism. 82 Moreover, OPCs seeded on astrocytes exhibit higher motility than OPCs on laminin-coated plates after IL-1alpha/ bFGF treatment.…”