title: Transplanted cultured type-1 astrocytes can be used to reconstitute the glia limitans of the CNS: the structure which prevents Schwann cells from myelinating CNS axons.
abstract: Transplantation of different glial cells into areas of demyelination made in the adult rat spinal cord allows insights into the cell-cell interaction necessary to reconstruct a glial environment around demyelinated axons. Such studies have shown that type-1 astrocytes are central to the exclusion of Schwann cells from areas of glia-free demyelination. However, for these cells to be established in a manner which prevents Schwann cell remyelination of CNS axons, cells of the O-2A lineage are also required. If cultures of isogeneic rat type-1 astrocytes and mouse O-2A cells are transplanted into lesions made in non-immunosuppressed animals. Schwann cell remyelination is limited and extensive oligodendrocyte remyelination is achieved. This paradigm creates a model of immune mediated demyelination in which the immune response is not primarily directed at oligodendrocyte specific epitopes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge.
authors.forename: W F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Blakemore
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000637:transplantation*; D001369:Axons / Q000502:physiology*; D002455:Cell Division; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D003711:Demyelinating Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004996:Ethidium / Q000494:pharmacology; D007107:Immune System / Q000502:physiology; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000502:physiology*; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000166:cytology* / Q000637:transplantation; D009836:Oligodendroglia / Q000502:physiology; D012583:Schwann Cells / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D004996:Ethidium