Glial lineages and myelination in the central nervous system

Oligodendrocytes, derived from stem cell precursors which arise in subventricular zones of the developing central nervous system, have as their specialist role the synthesis and maintenance of myelin. Astrocytes contribute to the cellular architecture of the central nervous system and act as a sourc...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of anatomy 1997-02, Vol.190 ( Pt 2), p.161-200
Main Authors: Compston, A, Zajicek, J, Sussman, J, Webb, A, Hall, G, Muir, D, Shaw, C, Wood, A, Scolding, N
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Animals
Cell Lineage - physiology
Central Nervous System - embryology
Humans
Myelin Sheath - physiology
Nerve Regeneration - physiology
Neuroglia - physiology
Rats
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Summary:Oligodendrocytes, derived from stem cell precursors which arise in subventricular zones of the developing central nervous system, have as their specialist role the synthesis and maintenance of myelin. Astrocytes contribute to the cellular architecture of the central nervous system and act as a source of growth factors and cytokines; microglia are bone-marrow derived macrophages which function as primary immunocompetent cells in the central nervous system. Myelination depends on the establishment of stable relationships between each differentiated oligodendrocyte and short segments of several neighbouring axons. There is growing evidence, especially from studies of glial cell implantation, that oligodendrocyte precursors persist in the adult nervous system and provide a limited capacity for the restoration of structure and function in myelinated pathways damaged by injury or disease.
ISSN:0021-8782
DOI:10.1017/S0021878296001707