A population of oligodendrocytes derived from multipotent neural precursor cells expresses a cholinergic phenotype in culture and responds to ciliary neurotrophic factor.
Because oligodendrocytes and their precursors possess receptors for classical transmitters, and neurotransmitters such as glutamate and noradrenaline can mediate oligodendroglial proliferation and differentiation, it is possible that other neurotransmitters can also exert regulatory roles in oligodendrocyte function. We used mitogen-proliferated multipotent neuroepithelial precursors (neurospheres) and identified oligodendroglia that expressed markers traditionally found in cholinergic neurons. Regardless of culture conditions, there existed a large population of cells that resembled oligodendrocytes morphologically and coexpressed the oligodendrocyte-specific marker galactocerebroside (GalC) and the acetylcholine (ACh)-synthesizing enzyme choline acetyltransferase (ChAT). These cells did not express neuronal markers, and whole-cell recordings from cells with similar morphology displayed only outward currents in response to depolarizing voltage steps, further supporting their oligodendroglial identity. Another cholinergic marker, the vesicular ACh transporter, was also detected in GalC(+) oligodendrocytes. Furthermore, neurospheres cultured in the presence of the cholinergic receptor antagonist atropine showed a decrease in the number of GalC(+) spheres, implicating the muscarinic ACh receptor in oligodendrocyte development. The actions of neurotrophins and ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) on these ChAT(+) oligodendrocytes were examined. Among these, CNTF treatment significantly increased oligodendrocytic process outgrowth. These results demonstrate classical cholinergic neuronal markers in oligodendrocytes as well as an effect of muscarinic receptor blockade on oligodendrocyte differentiation.
MacDonald
S C
SC
Department of Physiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Simcoff
R
R
Jordan
L M
LM
Dodd
J G
JG
Cheng
K W
KW
Hochman
Shawn
S
D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism; D020934:Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005333:Fetus; D005699:Galactosylceramides / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D009836:Oligodendroglia / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D010641:Phenotype; D018874:Spheroids, Cellular; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D050494:Vesicular Acetylcholine Transport Proteins; D033921:Vesicular Transport Proteins
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D020934:Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor; D005699:Galactosylceramides; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; C493460:Slc18a3 protein, mouse; D050494:Vesicular Acetylcholine Transport Proteins; D033921:Vesicular Transport Proteins; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase; D000109:Acetylcholine