Sonic hedgehog promotes the migration and proliferation of optic nerve oligodendrocyte precursors

• Published in: Molecular and cellular neuroscience 2007-11, Vol.36 (3), p.355-368
• Main Authors: Merchán, Paloma, Bribián, Ana, Sánchez-Camacho, Cristina, Lezameta, Melissa, Bovolenta, Paola, de Castro, Fernando
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Antibodies - pharmacology; Cell Differentiation - drug effects; Cell Differentiation - physiology; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Movement - drug effects; Cell Movement - physiology; Cell proliferation; Cell Proliferation - drug effects; Cells, Cultured; Chemotaxis - drug effects; Chemotaxis - physiology; Chemotropism; Chick Embryo; Hedgehog Proteins - antagonists & inhibitors; Hedgehog Proteins - immunology; Hedgehog Proteins - metabolism; Mice; Migration; Myelin; Myelin Sheath - drug effects; Myelin Sheath - immunology; Myelin Sheath - metabolism; Oligodendrocyte; Oligodendroglia - cytology; Oligodendroglia - drug effects; Oligodendroglia - metabolism; Optic Nerve - cytology; Optic Nerve - embryology; Optic Nerve - metabolism; Signal Transduction - drug effects; Signal Transduction - physiology; Sonic hedgehog; Stem Cells - cytology; Stem Cells - drug effects; Stem Cells - metabolism
• ISSN: 1044-7431; 1095-9327
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mcn.2007.07.012

Optic nerve (ON) oligodendrocyte precursors (OPCs) are generated under the influence of the Sonic hedgehog (Shh) in the preoptic area from where they migrate to colonise the entire nerve. The molecular events that control this migration are still poorly understood. Recent studies suggested that Shh is often used by the same cell population to control different processes, including cell proliferation and migration, raising the possibility that Shh could contribute to these aspects of OPC development. In support of this idea, we show here that Shh induces the proliferation of OPCs derived from embryonic mouse ON explants and acts as a chemoattractant for their migration. In ovo injections of hybridomas secreting Shh-specific blocking antibody decreases the number of OPCs present in chick ONs, particularly in the retinal portion of the nerve. Altogether these data indicate that Shh contributes to OPC proliferation and distribution along the ON, in addition to their specification.