Presence of Schwann cells in neurodegenerative lesions of the central nervous system.
Ultrastructural analysis of neurodegenerative CNS lesions produced by an excitotoxic substance revealed that the majority of cells ensheathing axons were not oligodendrocytes. By their morphology and the presence of both a basal lamina and collagen fibers they were identified as Schwann cells. The presence of Schwann cells, whose growth-promoting role in the peripheral nervous system has been largely documented, may account for the development of regenerating growth cones which have been observed in the excitotoxically lesioned central nervous system. Further support for this hypothesis came from the analysis of fetal neural transplants implanted into the lesioned area. Schwann cells ensheathing axons were indeed numerous in the neuron-depleted area surrounding the transplants, where neurite outgrowth of graft origin occurred.
Dusart
I
I
INSERM U. 161, Paris, France.
Isacson
O
O
Nothias
F
F
Gumpel
M
M
Peschanski
M
M
D000818:Animals; D007608:Kainic Acid; D009413:Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D012583:Schwann Cells / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013786:Thalamic Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D013787:Thalamic Nuclei / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure
D007608:Kainic Acid