Precursor cells of oligodendrocytes in rat primary cultures

• Published in: Developmental biology Vol. 108; no. 2; pp. 474 - 480
• Main Authors: de los Monteros, A.Espinosa, Roussel, G., Gensburger, C., Nussbaum, J.L., Labourdette, G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Inc 01.01.1985; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animals; Animals, Newborn; Biological and medical sciences; Brain - cytology; Brain Chemistry; Cell Differentiation; Cell differentiation, maturation, development, hematopoiesis; Cell physiology; Cells, Cultured; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Molecular and cellular biology; Myelin Proteins - analysis; Neuroglia - cytology; Oligodendroglia - analysis; Oligodendroglia - cytology; Rats; Stem Cells - analysis; Stem Cells - cytology; Time Factors; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Monolayer culture; Oligodendrocyte; Rat; Rodentia; Tissue culture; Brain (Vertebrata); Astrocyte; Cell differentiation; Precursor
• ISSN: 0012-1606; 1095-564X
• DOI: 10.1016/0012-1606(85)90050-8

In monolayer primary cultures of brain from newborn rats, which contain astrocytes and oligodendrocytes, a new morphological cell type (flat black cells) was observed. Microphotographs of different areas of the monolayer, taken every 30 min, showed that these flat black cells can divide and that they undergo morphological transformation in vitro. They give rise to oligodendrocytes which were identified by their characteristic morphology but also by their content of W1 Wolfgram protein. These findings suggest that the flat black cells are precursors for oligodendrocytes, in culture.