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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 24, 2026

Production and Use of Lentivirus to Selectively Transduce Primary Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells for In Vitro Myelination Assays

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Published on: January 12, 2015

All Wrapped Up: Environmental Effects on Myelination.

Thomas A Forbes¹, Vittorio Gallo¹

¹Center for Neuroscience Research, Children's Research Institute, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC 20010, USA; The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC 20037, USA.

Trends in Neurosciences

|August 29, 2017

Summary

Environmental stimuli dynamically influence brain myelination throughout life, affecting oligodendrocyte cells and impacting cognitive functions. Understanding these effects is key to promoting recovery from CNS conditions.

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Organotypic Slice Cultures to Study Oligodendrocyte Dynamics and Myelination

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Published on: August 25, 2014

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Cell Biology
Environmental Health

Background:

Exogenous environmental stimuli significantly impact brain development and function.
Myelination, orchestrated by oligodendrocyte cells, is a dynamic process influenced by the environment across the lifespan.

Purpose of the Study:

To discuss the role of environmental stimuli in central nervous system (CNS) myelination mechanisms.
To highlight how environmental cues influence myelin plasticity and functional recovery.

Main Methods:

Review of existing literature on environmental influences on myelination.
Analysis of mechanisms governing oligodendrocyte progenitor cell (OPC) development and myelin plasticity.

Main Results:

Environmental stimuli exert both positive and negative influences on myelination programs.
Myelinating oligodendrocyte (OL) cells are sensitive to environmental changes throughout human life.
CNS myelin exhibits plasticity in response to environmental factors.

Conclusions:

Environmental factors play a crucial role in regulating CNS myelination under normal and pathological conditions.
Extrinsic cues can modulate intrinsic myelin plasticity, offering potential for promoting functional recovery.