title: Rat oligodendroblasts in vitro as a long-term cell line.
abstract: A stable line of oligodendrocyte-like cells has been derived by passaging methods from initial explant cultures of postnatal Lewis rat cerebellum. These cells resemble oligodendrocytes by both light and electron microscopy. However, their ultrastructure suggests immaturity, and they express no galactocerebroside at their surfaces. They do express surface tetrasialoganglioside. They contain no intermediate filaments, and show none of the ultrastructural characteristics of astrocytes. It is suggested that they represent immediate precursors to oligodendrocytes, or "oligodendroblasts". In addition, the cell line contains a small minority of astrocytes, and interactions between these and the oligodendroblasts are suggested to account for the highly differentiated ultrastructure maintained by the oligodendroblasts over hundreds of cell generations in vitro, as well as, possibly, the high proliferative rate of the oligodendroblasts. Conversely, the failure of the oligodendroblasts to mature is related to the absence of neurons.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D005699:Galactosylceramides / Q000378:metabolism; D005732:Gangliosides / Q000378:metabolism; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009457:Neuroglia; D009836:Oligodendroglia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D005699:Galactosylceramides; D005732:Gangliosides; D009418:S100 Proteins; C002454:galactocerebroside