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The Journal of Neuroscience, July 2, 2003, 23(13):5963-5973

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Connexins Are Critical for Normal Myelination in the CNS

Daniela M. Menichella ,^1,4 Daniel A. Goodenough,² Erich Sirkowski,³ Steven S. Scherer,³ and David L. Paul¹

Departments of ¹Neurobiology and ²Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, ³Department of Neurology, The University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, and ⁴Institute of Neurology, Instituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Ospedale Maggiore, Centro Dino Ferrari, University of Milan, Milan, Italy

Mutations in Cx32, a gap-junction channel-forming protein, result in X-linked Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease, a demyelinating disease of the peripheral nervous system. However, although oligodendrocytes express Cx32, central myelination is unaffected. To explore this discrepancy, we searched for additional oligodendrocyte connexins. We found Cx47, which is expressed specifically in oligodendrocytes, regulated in parallel with myelin genes and partially colocalized with Cx32 in oligodendrocytes. Mice lacking either Cx47 or Cx32 are viable. However, animals lacking both connexins die by postnatal week 6 from profound abnormalities in central myelin, characterized by thin or absent myelin sheaths, vacuolation, enlarged periaxonal collars, oligodendrocyte cell death, and axonal loss. These data provide the first evidence that gap-junction communication is crucial for normal central myelination.

Key words: gap junction; connexin; myelin; oligodendrocyte; Cx47; Cx32

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Received Mar. 25, 2003; revised May. 9, 2003; accepted May. 14, 2003.

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