Survival and mitosis of myelinating oligodendrocytes in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis: an immunocytochemical study with Rip antibody.
The fate of myelin-forming oligodendrocytes in the spinal cord of Lewis rats with acute and chronic relapsing experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) was studied using the pre-embedding immunolabelling technique with the Rip monoclonal antibody which specifically labels the cytoplasm of the cell body and processes of the mature oligodendrocyte. Morphologically normal Rip-positive (Rip+) cells were found in close contact with demyelinated axons at the onset of demyelination and during the course of disease, indicating that oligodendrocytes survive the acute demyelinating insult. Occasional Rip+ oligodendrocytes were undergoing mitosis at the time of onset of neurological signs. These mitotic oligodendrocytes were present in both the grey and white matter. The majority of the mitotic oligodendrocytes had processes in direct contact with myelin sheaths for considerable lengths, indicating that they were myelinating cells. This study indicates that oligodendrocytes survive the acute demyelinating insult in EAE and that mature myelinating oligodendrocytes are able to undergo mitosis.
Department of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Royal Brisbane Hospital, Herston, Australia.
K B
KB
Nguyen
M P
MP
Pender
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D002470:Cell Survival; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000276:immunology; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000473:pathology*; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000166:cytology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008938:Mitosis; D009836:Oligodendroglia / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000276:immunology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal