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Formation of compact myelin is required for maturation of the axonal cytoskeletonAlthough traditional roles ascribed to myelinating glial cells are structural and supportive, the importance of compact myelin for proper functioning of the nervous system can be inferred from mutations in myelin proteins and neuropathologies associated with loss of myelin. Myelinating Schwann cells are known to affect local properties of peripheral axons (de Waegh et al., 1992), but little is known about effects of oligodendrocytes on CNS axons. The shiverer mutant mouse has a deletion in the myelin basic protein gene that eliminates compact myelin in the CNS. In shiverer mice, both local axonal features like phosphorylation of cytoskeletal proteins and neuronal perikaryon functions like cytoskeletal gene expression are altered. This leads to changes in the organization and composition of the axonal cytoskeleton in shiverer unmyelinated axons relative to age-matched wild-type myelinated fibers, although connectivity and patterns of neuronal activity are comparable. Remarkably, transgenic shiverer mice with thin myelin sheaths display an intermediate phenotype indicating that CNS neurons are sensitive to myelin sheath thickness. These results indicate that formation of a normal compact myelin sheath is required for normal maturation of the neuronal cytoskeleton in large CNS neurons.
Document ID
20040141853
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Brady, S. T.
(University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience Dallas, Texas 75235-9039, United States)
Witt, A. S.
Kirkpatrick, L. L.
de Waegh, S. M.
Readhead, C.
Tu, P. H.
Lee, V. M.
Date Acquired
August 22, 2013
Publication Date
September 1, 1999
Publication Information
Publication: The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience
Volume: 19
Issue: 17
ISSN: 0270-6474
Subject Category
Life Sciences (General)
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NS23320
CONTRACT_GRANT: NS23868
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
NASA Discipline Neuroscience
Non-NASA Center

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