Axonal Neuregulin-1 Regulates Myelin Sheath Thickness

In the nervous system of vertebrates, myelination is essential for rapid and accurate impulse conduction. Myelin thickness depends on axon fiber size. We use mutant and transgenic mouse lines to show that axonal Neuregulin-1 (Nrg1) signals information about axon size to Schwann cells. Reduced Nrg1 e...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 2004-04, Vol.304 (5671), p.700-703
Main Authors: Michailov, Galin V., Sereda, Michael W., Brinkmann, Bastian G., Fischer, Tobias M., Haug, Bernhard, Birchmeier, Carmen, Role, Lorna, Lai, Cary, Schwab, Markus H., Nave, Klaus-Armin
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adults
Anatomy
Animals
Axons
Axons - physiology
Axons - ultrastructure
Biological and medical sciences
Brain research
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Ganglia, Spinal - chemistry
Gene Targeting
Genes, erbB
Genes, erbB-2
Heterozygote
Heterozygotes
Mice
Mice, Knockout
Mice, Transgenic
Models, Neurological
Myelin
Myelin sheath
Myelin Sheath - physiology
Myelin Sheath - ultrastructure
Myelination
Nerves
Nervous system
Neural Conduction
Neuregulin-1 - genetics
Neuregulin-1 - physiology
Neurology
Neurons
Properties
Protein Isoforms - physiology
Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor - analysis
Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor - physiology
Receptor, ErbB-2 - analysis
Receptor, ErbB-2 - physiology
Receptor, ErbB-3 - analysis
Receptor, ErbB-3 - physiology
Schwann cells
Schwann Cells - physiology
Sciatic nerve
Sciatic Nerve - chemistry
Signal Transduction
Transgenic animals
Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs
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Description
Summary:In the nervous system of vertebrates, myelination is essential for rapid and accurate impulse conduction. Myelin thickness depends on axon fiber size. We use mutant and transgenic mouse lines to show that axonal Neuregulin-1 (Nrg1) signals information about axon size to Schwann cells. Reduced Nrg1 expression causes hypomyelination and reduced nerve conduction velocity. Neuronal overexpression of Nrg1 induces hypermyelination and demonstrates that Nrg1 type III is the responsible isoform. We suggest a model by which myelin-forming Schwann cells integrate axonal Nrg1 signals as a biochemical measure of axon size.
ISSN:0036-8075
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.1095862