Journal of Neuroscience, Vol 6, 2635-2643, Copyright © 1986 by Society for Neuroscience
Oligodendroglia development in cell culture as monitored with a monoclonal antibody
JM Collins and NW Seeds
A new marker for young oligodendrocytes has been identified by a monoclonal
antibody (mOg-1, IgM isotype) prepared from cerebellar plasma membrane
stimulated mouse lymphocytes. mOg-1 reactive cells in the mouse cerebellum
first appear at day 19 of gestation. Future white matter layers of fixed
sections of neonatal rat cerebellum were labeled with mOg-1. Although EM
analysis has shown cell-surface binding by presumptive oligodendroglia in
neonatal cerebellum, the antibody does not bind to compact myelin. In cell
cultures prepared from 6-d-old mice, 1.1% of the cells bound mOg-1 after 3
d in culture, but up to 5% of the cells bound mOg-1 after 2 weeks in
culture. Of these same Og-1- positive cells, 69% bound
anti-galactocerebroside and 65% bound anti- myelin basic protein. After a
week in culture Og-1-positive cells often produced lamellar sheets
extending a millimeter over the polylysine substratum in the absence of
normal myelin formation. mOg-1 recognizes a cell-surface determinant
distinct from well-characterized oligodendroglial molecules
(galactocerebroside, sulfatide and myelin basic protein) that is expressed
early in oligodendrocyte development. The antibody has been used to follow
the maturation of oligodendrocytes in cultures of both normal and jimpy
mouse cerebellum.