title: N-cadherin expression and function in cultured oligodendrocytes.
abstract: N-Cadherin is a major cell adhesion molecule that is expressed in the developing nervous system where it has been implicated in neural migration and axon growth. Recently, a role for N-cadherin in oligodendrocyte differentiation has been identified [23]. Oligodendrocyte precursors adhere to N-cadherin and mature rapidly to produce myelin sheets. Since this implies that oligodendrocytes express N-cadherin, we examined the expression of N-cadherin by oligodendrocytes in culture. N-Cadherin was expressed by O-2A progenitors, immature oligodendrocytes and mature oligodendrocytes, but at a lower level than in type 1 astrocytes in the same cultures. On mature oligodendrocytes, the N-cadherin was concentrated on the major processes emerging from the soma. The ability of N-cadherin and merosin to promote oligodendrocyte precursor migration was also studied. Average migration rates were significantly higher on merosin (11.2 microns/h) than on N-cadherin (5.6 microns/h). These results suggest that N-cadherin is not likely to function predominantly as a substrate that stimulates migration of O-2A progenitors, but may be more important in initiating early oligodendrocyte-axon interactions that promote the process of myelination.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106-4975, USA.
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Payne
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Hemperly
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lemmon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015820:Cadherins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002642:Chick Embryo; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007797:Laminin / Q000494:pharmacology; D009836:Oligodendroglia / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000166:cytology; D051381:Rats; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine / Q000494:pharmacology; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins; D007797:Laminin; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine