[Identification of cells of the central nervous system using cell-specific markers]

Cell markers are membrane-associated components of the cellular wall or intracellular substances which are specific for the cell types of any tissue. Markers of the major cell types of the central nervous system (CNS) essentially are the components of the cytoskeleton (microtubules, intermediate filaments), several intracytoplasmic enzymes, and specific components of myelin (myelin proteins, myelin-associated glycoproteins, lipids). In this review the fundamental characteristics of specific CNS markers (astroglia, oligodendroglia, neurons) are discussed and examples of marker application in human and veterinary medical neurosciences are presented.