Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Nervous Tissue: Myelin

Nervous Tissue: Myelin

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...

Neurulation

Neurulation

Neurulation is the embryological process which forms the precursors of the central nervous system and occurs after gastrulation has established the three primary cell layers of the embryo: ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. In humans, the majority of this system is formed via primary neurulation, in which the central portion of the ectoderm—originally appearing as a flat sheet of cells—folds upwards and inwards, sealing off to form a hollow neural tube. As development proceeds, the anterior...

Functions of the Nervous System

Functions of the Nervous System

The nervous system is responsible for coordinating and regulating the body's functions. It functions through three main processes: sensory, integrative, and motor processes. Sensory function involves the detection and transmission of information about internal and external stimuli from sensory receptors to the CNS. The CNS processes this information through an integrative function, where it interprets and makes decisions based on the incoming sensory information. Finally, the motor function...

Diencephalon: Thalamus and Information Relay

Diencephalon: Thalamus and Information Relay

The thalamus, often called “the gateway to the cerebral cortex,” is vital in processing and directing sensory and motor signals throughout the brain. Almost all inputs destined for the cerebral cortex, except for olfactory signals, are relayed through the thalamus. The thalamus is a sophisticated relay station, channeling information from various brain regions to the cerebral cortex, as well as a filter, prioritizing certain signals over others based on current physiological states or needs.

Neuronal Communication

Neuronal Communication

Neurons, the fundamental units of the brain and nervous system, communicate through complex electrochemical signals that underpin all cognitive and bodily functions. This communication is primarily facilitated by a process involving the generation and propagation of an action potential along the axon of the neuron. When the internal electrical charge of a neuron surpasses a certain threshold, an action potential is triggered. This rapid change in voltage travels swiftly along the axon to the...

Somatosensory, Motor, and Association Cortex

Somatosensory, Motor, and Association Cortex

The somatosensory cortex in the parietal lobes is crucial for interpreting sensory data such as touch, temperature, and proprioception. The somatosensory cortex, situated in the parietal lobes, plays a vital role in interpreting sensory information like touch, temperature, and proprioception—awareness of body position. This specialized brain region features an organized structure wherein neurons at the top primarily process sensations originating from the lower body. In contrast, those at the...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Enhancing myelination in a high-poxic environment.

Neuron·2026

Same author

MESH1 functions as a metazoan PAPS phosphatase to regulate sulfation.

Nature chemical biology·2026

Same author

Next-gen micropillars for investigating oligodendrocyte myelination.

Nature methods·2026

Same author

Myelin injury precedes axonal injury and symptomatic onset in multiple sclerosis.

Nature medicine·2025

Same author

Revisiting the role of ErbBs in oligodendrocyte development.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2024

Same author

Oligodendrocytes go with the flow: Meningeal lymphatics promote myelin integrity.

Immunity·2024

Same journal

AXIN1 and AXIN2 regulate the WNT-signaling landscape to promote distinct mesoderm programs.

Developmental cell·2026

Same journal

ARID1A terminates gastric regeneration to prevent cancer.

Developmental cell·2026

Same journal

Myc sustains sex-biased organ zonation in the Drosophila intestine.

Developmental cell·2026

Same journal

Two parallel neuronal circuits involving electrical synapse and DAF-7/TGF-β signaling regulate muscle autophagy in C. elegans.

Developmental cell·2026

Same journal

Menstruation: Once unspoken but now uncovered, one cell type at a time.

Developmental cell·2026

Same journal

The ALS- and FTD-associated proteins annexin A11 and CHMP2B act sequentially in plasma membrane repair.

Developmental cell·2026

See all related articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 12, 2026

Isolation and Cultivation of Neural Progenitors Followed by Chromatin-Immunoprecipitation of Histone 3 Lysine 79 Dimethylation Mark

Isolation and Cultivation of Neural Progenitors Followed by Chromatin-Immunoprecipitation of Histone 3 Lysine 79 Dimethylation Mark

Published on: January 26, 2018

Right on cue-Neuronal signals guide myelination in the developing cortex.

Albert Zhang¹, Jonah R Chan¹

¹Weill Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.

Developmental Cell

|June 10, 2026

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Axonal signals guide myelination in the central nervous system (CNS). Researchers identified molecules that may shape how developing brain cortexes become myelinated.

More Related Videos

Time-Lapse Imaging of Migrating Neurons and Glial Progenitors in Embryonic Mouse Brain Slices

Time-Lapse Imaging of Migrating Neurons and Glial Progenitors in Embryonic Mouse Brain Slices

Published on: March 8, 2024

Double In Utero Electroporation to Target Temporally and Spatially Separated Cell Populations

Double In Utero Electroporation to Target Temporally and Spatially Separated Cell Populations

Published on: June 14, 2020

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 12, 2026

Isolation and Cultivation of Neural Progenitors Followed by Chromatin-Immunoprecipitation of Histone 3 Lysine 79 Dimethylation Mark

Isolation and Cultivation of Neural Progenitors Followed by Chromatin-Immunoprecipitation of Histone 3 Lysine 79 Dimethylation Mark

Published on: January 26, 2018

Time-Lapse Imaging of Migrating Neurons and Glial Progenitors in Embryonic Mouse Brain Slices

Time-Lapse Imaging of Migrating Neurons and Glial Progenitors in Embryonic Mouse Brain Slices

Published on: March 8, 2024

Double In Utero Electroporation to Target Temporally and Spatially Separated Cell Populations

Double In Utero Electroporation to Target Temporally and Spatially Separated Cell Populations

Published on: June 14, 2020

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Developmental Biology
Cell Biology

Background:

Myelinated and unmyelinated axons are present throughout the central nervous system (CNS).
Axonal signals are hypothesized to influence the process of myelination.
Understanding these signals is crucial for comprehending CNS development and function.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the relationship between axonal signals and myelination patterns.
To identify specific molecules released by axons that promote myelination.
To understand how these pro-myelinating molecules shape the developing cortex.

Main Methods:

Generation of a comprehensive library of axonal signals.
Screening of the library to identify candidate pro-myelinating molecules.
Analysis of the effects of identified molecules on myelination patterns in the developing cortex.

Main Results:

Identification of several candidate molecules that act as pro-myelinating signals.
Evidence suggesting these molecules can influence the patterns of myelination in the developing cortex.
Contribution to understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying CNS myelination.

Conclusions:

Axonal signals play a significant role in directing myelination.
Specific pro-myelinating molecules have been identified as key regulators.
These findings provide new insights into the developmental processes shaping the CNS.