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Updated: Jan 21, 2026

In Vitro Myelination of Peripheral Axons in a Coculture of Rat Dorsal Root Ganglion Explants and Schwann Cells
Published on: February 10, 2023
Putting the glue in glia: Necls mediate Schwann cell axon adhesion
Julie R Perlin1, William S Talbot
1Department of Developmental Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
Abstract:
Interactions between Schwann cells and axons are critical for the development and function of myelinated axons. Two recent studies (see Maurel et al. on p. 861 of this issue; Spiegel et al., 2007) report that the nectin-like (Necl) proteins Necl-1 and -4 are internodal adhesion molecules that are critical for myelination. These studies suggest that Necl proteins mediate a specific interaction between Schwann cells and axons that allows proper communication of the signals that trigger myelination.
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