title: [Embryonic origin of oligodendrocytes].
abstract: Over the past ten years, knowledge regarding the origin of the oligodendrocyte lineage during development has increased considerably. In this review, we present the major findings as a result of which it was determined that only restricted regions of the neural tube have an oligodendrogenetic potential. These findings are based on the study of molecular markers permitting the detection, among the multipotent neutricular cells of the neural tube, of those with a potential to differentiate into oligodendrocytes. At the present time, it appears that these oligodendrocyte precursors can be distinguished in the brain either by the expression of the plp/dm-20 transcript, or by that of the alpha-receptor of PDGF. These two markers allow two oligodendroglial subpopulations to be differentiated, suggesting a multiple origin of oligodendrocytes. An assessment has also been made of the current state of knowledge, still incomplete, regarding the intrinsic and extrinsic factors which cause a multipotent cell strain to follow an oligodendroglial differentiation. A better knowledge of the oligodendrogenesis during embryonic development should provide insight into the regeneration mechanisms, and later to the development of therapeutic strategies aimed at increasing the endogenous potential of remyelinization.
authors.affiliation: Inserm U495, université Pierre et Marie Curie, hôpital de la Salpêtrière, Paris, France.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zalc
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Thomas
mesh_terms: D002450:Cell Communication; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D009836:Oligodendroglia; D012038:Regeneration; D013234:Stem Cells