After incomplete traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI), the spared tissue exhibits abnormal myelination that is associated with reduced or blocked axonal conductance. To examine the molecular basis of the abnormal myelination, we used a standardized rat model of incomplete SCI and compared normal uninjured tissue with that after contusion injury. We evaluated expression of mRNA for myelin proteins...

It has become clear that the products of several of the earliest identified myelin protein genes perform functions that extend beyond the myelin sheath. Interestingly, these myelin proteins, which comprise proteolipid protein, 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase and the classic and golli MBPs (myelin basic proteins), play important roles during different stages of oligodendroglial deve...

In the development of multiple sclerosis (MS), (re)activation of infiltrating T cells by myelin-derived Ags is considered to be a crucial step. Previously, alpha B-crystallin has been shown to be an important myelin Ag to human T cells. Since alpha B-crystallin is an intracellular heat shock protein, the question arises at what stage, if any, during lesional development in MS this Ag becomes av...

The synthesis and methylation in vivo of myelin basic protein (MBP) during the mouse brain development has been investigated. When mice ranging in age from 13 to 60 days were injected intracerebrally with L-[methyl-3H]methionine, the incorporation of radioactivity into MBP isolated from youngest brain was found to be the highest and declined progressively in mature brains. This pattern of radio...

Specific membrane microdomains (including lipid rafts) exist in myelin but have not been fully characterized. Myelin basic protein (MBP) maintains the compactness of the myelin sheath and is highly posttranslationally modified. Thus, it has been suggested that MBP might also have other functions, e.g., in signal transduction. Here, the distribution of MBP and its modified forms was studied, spa...

Myelin basic protein (MBP) mRNA is localized to myelin produced by oligodendrocytes of the central nervous system. MBP mRNA microinjected into oligodendrocytes in primary culture is assembled into granules in the perikaryon, transported along the processes, and localized to the myelin compartment. In this work, microinjection of various deleted and chimeric RNAs was used to delineate regions in...

The conformation of myelin encephalitogenic or basic protein (BP) was investigated with a double-antibody radioimmunoassay by studying the reaction of BP or its fragments with antibodies produced in two rabbits against peptide 43-88 linked to rabbit serum albumin. Both antisera reacted well with peptide 43-88 but showed little or no reaction with BP. Absorption of these antisera with a BP-immun...

This report describes a new modification of the Gallyas method for staining myelin in fixed brain tissue and compares results of multiple myelin-visualizing techniques in normal common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus), normal macaque monkey (Macaca mulatta), and a human with multiple sclerosis. The new modification involves immersion in 10% formalin following impregnation in ammoniacal silver nitr...

Myelin is a multilayered membrane that ensheathes axonal fibers in the vertebrate nervous system, allowing fast propagation of nerve action potentials. It contains densely packed lipids, lacks an actin-based cytocortex, and requires myelin basic protein (MBP) as its major structural component. This protein is the basic constituent of the proteinaceous meshwork that is localized between adjacent...

Myelin is probably one of the most fascinating and innovative biological acquisition: a glia plasma membrane tightly wrapped around an axon and insulating it. Chondrichthyans (cartilaginous fishes) form a large group of vertebrates, and they are among oldest extant jawed vertebrate lineage. It has been known from studies 150 years ago, that they are positioned at the root of the successful appe...