Electrical responses of oligodendrocytes to pathological stimuli

......................................................................................... 3 Table of contents................................................................................4 List of figures................................................................................. 10 List of tables................................................................................... 17 Acknowledgements.......................................................................... 18 Dedication..................................................................................... 19 Chapter 1: Introduction.................................................................... 20 1.1 White matter and its role in CNS function.................................. 20 1.2 Oligodendrocytes and their role in the white matter........................ 20 1.2.1. Oligodendrocyte development......................................... 21 1.2.2. Neuron-glia interaction at the node of Ranvier...................... 23 1.2.3. The classification of mature oligodendrocytes....................... 24 1.2.4. The structure and role of cerebellum.................................. 25 1.3 Channel and receptor expression by oligodendrocytes.................... 27 1.3.1. Ion channels............................................................... 28 1.3.1.1. Voltage-gated sodium channels.................................. 28 1.3.1.2. Voltage-gated calcium channels.................................. 28 1.3.1.3. Potassium channels.................................................29 1.3.1.4. Acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs)..............................30 1.3.1.5. Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels.................... 31 1.3.1.6. Gap junctions and hemichannels................................. 32 1.3.2. Receptors expressed by oligodendrocytes............................ 34 1.3.2.1. Glutamate receptors................................................. 34 1.3.2.1.1. AMPA/KA receptors.......................................... 34 1.3.2.1.2. NMDA receptors.............................................. 36 1.3.2.1.3. Metabotropic glutamate receptors........................... 38 1.3.2.2. GABA receptors.................................................... 39 1.3.2.3. Purinergic receptors................................................ 40 1.4 Pathology of white matter and the role of oligodendrocytes.............. 41 1.4.1. Multiple sclerosis.........................................................42 1.4.2. The pathology of white matter ischaemia.............................44