An autoradiographic study of cellular proliferation in remyelination of the central nervous system

The proliferation and origin remyelinating oligodendrocytes was studied by light and electron miscrosopic autoradiography in the superior cerebellar peduncles of mice demyelinated by Cuprizone. In the early phases of demyelination, the cells undergoing mitotic activity were macrophages and astrocytes. In the later phases of demyelination, immature proliferating oligodendrocytes appeared; these differentiated into mature (dark) oligodendrocytes which were responsible for the remyelination of axons seen when animals were again placed on normal diets. The pattern of differentiation recapitulated that seen in developing oligodendrocytes in normal animals. Dark oligodendrocytes did not show mitotic activity. There was no mitotic activity in the subependymal cells around the fourth ventricle adjacent to the superior cerebellar peduncles. This study demonstrates the regenerative capacity of oligodendrocytes and their ability to carry out remeylination in the central nervous system.