title: An elevated level of circulating galanin promotes developmental expression of myelin basic protein in the mouse brain.
abstract: Myelinogenesis is a scheduled process that is regulated by the intrinsic properties of the cell and extracellular signals. Galanin (GAL) is a bioactive neuropeptide that is widely distributed throughout the nervous system. Chronic increase in circulating GAL levels protects the demyelination processes. Furthermore, GAL is synthesized in myelin-producing glial cells, such as oligodendrocytes and its expression level is at its highest between postnatal days 10 and 40. In the present study, we use our GAL transgenic mouse model to examine the effects of GAL on postnatal myelinogenesis in the CNS. Although we observed no difference in the proliferation of oligodendrocyte precursor cells, we found that GAL has a strong pro-myelinating effect. The transgenic mice at postnatal day 10 appeared to undergo myelinogenesis at an accelerated rate, as demonstrated by the increase in myelin basic protein (MBP) synthesis. The immunohistochemical results are consistent with our preliminary findings that suggest that GAL is a regulator of myelination and may be one of the myelination promoters. This finding is especially important for studies focusing on endogenous molecules for treating myelin-related diseases, such as multiple sclerosis and other leukodystrophies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Anatomy & Cell Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 0J9, Canada.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lyubetska
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Anatomy & Cell Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 0J9, Canada.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Anatomy & Cell Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 0J9, Canada.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Anatomy & Cell Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 0J9, Canada. Electronic address: maria.vrontakis@med.umanitoba.ca.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vrontakis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001921:Brain / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D019004:Galanin / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000502:physiology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D018991:Myelin Proteolipid Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000378:metabolism; D058953:Neural Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D055495:Neurogenesis / Q000502:physiology; D009836:Oligodendroglia / Q000378:metabolism; D020796:Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C499047:Mbp protein, mouse; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein; D018991:Myelin Proteolipid Protein; C579796:galanin protein, mouse; D019004:Galanin; D020796:Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha
keywords: galanin; immunohistochemistry; myelin basic protein; oligodendrocyte development