A possible relationship between concentration of microperoxisomes and myelination

Using catalase activity as a marker enzyme of microperoxisomes we determined the presence of these organelles in rat cerebral cortex (grey matter) and in brain stem (white matter) throughout development. While in grey matter the values of specific activity of catalase remained constant during all the period studied, in white matter the values increased up to 17 days of age, remained constant up to 31 days and decreased thereafter. Studies carried out in isolated oligodendroglial cells confirmed the results obtained in white matter. The results give support to the hypothesis of a possible relationship between the increase in the population of microperoxisomes and the appearance of myelin.