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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 31, 2026

Generation of Oligodendrocytes and Oligodendrocyte-Conditioned Medium for Co-Culture Experiments

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Published on: February 9, 2020

Oligodendrocyte Development and Plasticity.

Dwight E Bergles¹, William D Richardson²

¹The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University, WBSB 1001, Baltimore, Maryland 21205.

Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology

|October 23, 2015

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) in the central nervous system (CNS) generate myelinating oligodendrocytes (OLs). Adult OPCs exhibit adaptive myelination, responding to neural activity and injury to enhance myelin repair and plasticity.

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Differentiation of Embryonic Stem Cells into Oligodendrocyte Precursors

Differentiation of Embryonic Stem Cells into Oligodendrocyte Precursors

Published on: May 19, 2010

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Developmental Biology
Cell Biology

Background:

Oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) originate in the ventricular zones (VZs) and migrate to form myelinating oligodendrocytes (OLs) in the developing central nervous system (CNS).
OPCs persist in the adult CNS, maintaining myelin integrity and repair capabilities.
The functional distinctions of OPCs/OLs from different VZ origins remain largely unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the control of oligodendrocyte lineage development.
To explore oligodendrocyte population dynamics in the adult CNS.
To examine the phenomenon of adaptive myelination in response to neural activity and injury.

Main Methods:

Literature review of oligodendrocyte development and function.
Analysis of OPC behavior in response to injury and disease models.
Investigation of experience-dependent myelination and its role in plasticity.

Main Results:

Adult OPCs are capable of significant proliferation and differentiation for myelin repair after injury.
OPCs form synapses with axons and engage in experience-dependent adaptive myelination.
This adaptive myelination is crucial for processes like motor learning and CNS plasticity.

Conclusions:

Oligodendrocyte lineage development is a dynamic process extending into adulthood.
Adult OPCs play a vital role in myelin maintenance, repair, and adaptive myelination.
Understanding these processes is key to addressing CNS disorders and enhancing recovery.