An ultrastructural study of the development of oligodendrocytes in the midbrain of the lizard

Oligodendrocyte development was investigated in the midbrain of the lizard Gallotia galloti using the electron microscope. Oligodendroblasts, which had a pale cytoplasm containing numerous microtubules in the perikaryon and processes, were present from E35. Active oligodendrocytes had a pale nucleus, usually containing a nucleolus, and an electron-dense cytoplasm with long parallel stacks of rough endoplasmic reticulum. These were present from E37 to hatching which coincides with the period of rapid myelination. The three types of oligodendrocyte (light, medium and dark) first classified by Mori & Leblond (1970) in the rat could be identified in the lizard. Light oligodendrocytes were present at all ages from E37 to adult. Medium oligodendrocytes first appeared at E40 and dark oligodendrocytes were present at all ages from hatching onwards.