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Related Concept Videos

Nervous Tissue: Myelin01:25

Nervous Tissue: Myelin

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The myelin sheath is a multilayered lipid and protein covering that insulates the axon of a neuron, enhancing the speed of nerve impulse conduction. Axons without this sheath are referred to as unmyelinated. Two types of neuroglia, Schwann cells in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and oligodendrocytes in the central nervous system (CNS) are responsible for producing myelin sheaths.
Schwann cells begin to form myelin sheaths around axons during fetal development. They wrap around a small...
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Preparation and Immunostaining of Myelinating Organotypic Cerebellar Slice Cultures
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Adaptive myelination from fish to man.

Marion Baraban1, Sigrid Mensch1, David A Lyons1

  • 1Centre for Neuroregeneration, University of Edinburgh, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4SB, UK.

Brain Research
|October 27, 2015
PubMed
Summary

Myelin, crucial for nerve impulse speed, is dynamically regulated by neuronal activity throughout life. This review explores activity-driven adaptive myelination and its implications for nervous system plasticity.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cell Biology
  • Evolutionary Biology

Background:

  • Myelin sheaths, formed by Schwann cells (peripheral nervous system) and oligodendrocytes (central nervous system), are vital for rapid, energy-efficient nerve impulse propagation.
  • Contrary to the traditional view, myelin is dynamically regulated throughout life, not a static insulator.
  • Neuronal activity influences oligodendrocyte development and myelination, suggesting a role in nervous system plasticity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent literature on activity-dependent myelination.
  • To explore the cellular and molecular mechanisms mediating activity-driven myelination.
  • To identify key questions and future research directions in adaptive myelination.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies across various model organisms (fish to humans).

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  • Analysis of research on oligodendrocyte development and myelination processes.
  • Synthesis of findings on neuronal activity's impact on myelination.

    • Main Results:

    • Myelination is a dynamic process influenced by neuronal activity.
    • Oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells exhibit plasticity in response to neural signaling.
    • Activity-driven myelination may be functionally specialized across different neuronal circuits.

    Conclusions:

    • Adaptive myelination is a significant aspect of nervous system plasticity.
    • Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms and functional significance of activity-driven myelination.
    • Comparative studies across diverse species will enhance understanding of this fundamental process.