title: The trophic role of oligodendrocytes in the basal forebrain.
abstract: Traditionally, the primary function of oligodendrocytes (OLGs) in the CNS has been considered to be myelination. Here, we investigated whether OLGs may play a trophic role, particularly during development. Neurotrophin expression was assessed in postnatal day 7 basal forebrain (BF) OLGs, using in situ hybridization and detection of myelin basic protein. Nerve growth factor, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) mRNAs were revealed in OLGs in vivo and in culture. To determine whether OLGs support nearby neurons, we examined the influence of OLGs on BF cholinergic neurons. Neuronal function was enhanced by cocultured OLGs and OLG conditioned medium. Moreover, trophic effects of OLG conditioned medium were partially blocked by K252a, a trk tyrosine kinase inhibitor, and by neutralizing anti-BDNF or anti-NT-3 antisera, indicating that neurotrophins may mediate these effects, perhaps in concert with other signals. Our studies support a novel role for OLGs in providing local trophic support for neurons in the CNS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA.
authors.forename: Xudong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.forename: Lauren D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Lercher
authors.forename: Patricia M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Clinton
authors.forename: Yangzhou
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Denise L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Livingston
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vieira
authors.forename: Lu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Michael M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Cheryl F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Dreyfus
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D002227:Carbazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D019070:Cell Lineage; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002799:Cholinergic Fibers / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned / Q000494:pharmacology; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D007106:Immune Sera / Q000494:pharmacology; D026121:Indole Alkaloids; D017628:Microglia / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D020933:Neurotrophin 3 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D009836:Oligodendroglia / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D016548:Prosencephalon / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D002227:Carbazoles; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D007106:Immune Sera; D026121:Indole Alkaloids; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein; D020933:Neurotrophin 3; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor; C049985:staurosporine aglycone