Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 17, 2026
10:50
Visualizing Impairment of the Endothelial and Glial Barriers of the Neurovascular Unit during Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis In Vivo
Published on: March 26, 2019
Differential RIP antigen (CNPase) expression in peripheral ensheathing glia.
Jeremy S Toma1, Lowell T McPhail, Matt S Ramer
1International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries, The University of British Columbia, Rm. 2465, 6270 University Boulevard, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z4.
Brain Research
|January 19, 2007
Summary
The RIP antibody, identifying 2
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cell Biology
- Immunology
Background:
- The RIP monoclonal antibody is a standard tool for identifying oligodendrocytes.
- The RIP antigen has been identified as 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase (CNPase), a protein associated with non-compact myelin.
- Previous research has focused on RIP's role in the central nervous system.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize normal and axotomy-induced changes in RIP immunoreactivity in peripheral glia.
- To investigate the relationship between RIP expression and axon-glial contact in the peripheral nervous system.
- To determine if RIP expression is upregulated in satellite glia upon contact with sympathetic axons.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemical analysis of RIP immunoreactivity in rat peripheral nerves and ganglia.
- Induction of peripheral nerve injury (L5 spinal nerve axotomy) to study changes in RIP expression.
- Examination of RIP immunoreactivity in Schwann cells, satellite cells, and sympathetic ganglia.
Main Results:
- RIP immunoreactivity was observed in myelinating Schwann cells, demarcating paranodal regions and Schmidt-Lantermann incisures.
- Unexpectedly, RIP was also found in Remak bundles, sympathetic ganglia, and grey rami, indicating broader expression beyond myelinating glia.
- Following nerve injury, RIP redistributed diffusely in de-differentiating Schwann cells.
- Low RIP levels were detected in satellite cells and terminal Schwann cells in uninjured rats.
- Perineuronal sympathetic sprouts in the dorsal root ganglion were associated with heavily RIP-immunoreactive satellite cell sheaths.
- RIP immunoreactivity was absent in olfactory ensheathing glia, suggesting lineage-specific regulation.
Conclusions:
- RIP (CNPase) is expressed in various peripheral glial cells, including non-myelinating Schwann cells and satellite glia.
- Axon-glial contact, particularly with sympathetic sprouting, correlates with increased RIP immunoreactivity in satellite glia.
- The expression of RIP in peripheral glia is restricted to the Schwann cell lineage and is influenced by axonal interactions.
