Myelination of mouse cerebellar explants by rat cultured oligodendrocytes

It has been shown that transplanted central nervous system tissue containing oligodendrocytes will myelinate neuronal processes in vitro and in situ. In this study we propose to show that cultured rat oligodendrocytes have the capacity to myelinate mouse cerebellar neuronal processes in vitro. Cultured rat oligodendrocytes were transplanted to cytosine arabinoside-treated mouse cerebellar explant cultures, then observed for myelination. Ultrastructural examination showed myelin and myelin-like figures in co-cultures. Control cytosine arabinoside-treated cultures and cultured oligodendroglia were without compact myelin.