Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Myelin basic protein immunoreactivity in the human embryonic CNS

Zecevic1, Andjelkovic, Matthieu

  • 1Department of Medicine, University of Connecticut Medical Center, Farmington, CT, USA

Brain Research. Developmental Brain Research
|February 25, 1998
PubMed
Summary

Myelin basic protein (MBP) is found in human embryonic tissues before myelination begins. Early embryonic cells express MBP and macrophage markers, suggesting a link between immune and nervous systems during development.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Phonons in broken-symmetry structures.

Physical review. B, Condensed matter·1987
Same author

[The treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis by guided bronchial instillations of isoniazid in oily suspension].

Archivio italiano di otologia, rinologia e laringologia·1961
See all related articles

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Biology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Myelin basic protein (MBP) is a key component of myelin produced by oligodendrocytes in the central nervous system (CNS).
  • MBP expression has traditionally been used as a marker for oligodendrocyte differentiation and CNS myelination.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the expression patterns of MBP and its messenger RNA (mRNA) in human embryos and fetuses.
  • To determine the cellular localization and characteristics of MBP-expressing cells during early human development.

Main Methods:

  • Immunohistochemistry was used to detect MBP expression in human embryonic and fetal tissues (5-20 gestational weeks).
  • In situ hybridization was employed to identify MBP mRNA localization within the CNS.
  • Co-localization studies utilized markers for macrophages (lectin RCA-1, CD68 EBM-11), neurons, astroglia, and oligodendrocyte progenitors.

Related Experiment Videos

Main Results:

  • MBP immunoreactivity was detected in both nervous and non-nervous tissues from as early as 5-6 gestational weeks, preceding visible myelination.
  • MBP-positive cells were morphologically similar to macrophages and co-expressed macrophage-microglia markers.
  • MBP mRNA was detectable in the CNS by 5 gestational weeks.
  • MBP-positive cells were found in various CNS regions and non-nervous tissues like leptomeninges and choroid plexus.

Conclusions:

  • MBP expression occurs broadly in the developing human CNS and non-nervous tissues before myelination commences.
  • A population of cells expressing both MBP and macrophage markers was identified, suggesting a novel role for MBP beyond myelination.
  • These findings indicate that MBP or related proteins may serve as a bridge between the immune and nervous systems during early human development, potentially fulfilling unknown developmental functions.