The cell membrane of astrocytes and oligodendrocytes is almost exclusively permeable for K+. Depolarizing and hyperpolarizing voltage steps produce in oligodendrocytes, but not in astrocytes, decaying passive currents followed by large tail currents (Itail) after the offset of a voltage jump. The aim of the present study was to characterize the properties of Itail in astrocytes, oligodendrocyte...

Sustained activation of AMPA and kainate receptors in rat oligodendrocytes induces cytosolic calcium overload, mitochondrial depolarization, and an increase of reactive oxygen species, resulting in cell death. Here, we provide evidence that Bax, a proapoptotic member of the Bcl-2 protein family, is involved in excitotoxic apoptotic death of oligodendrocytes and that calpain mediates Bax activat...

Oligodendrocytes of adult rodents express three different connexins: connexin29 (Cx29), Cx32, and Cx47. In this study, we show that Cx29 is localized to the inner membrane of small myelin sheaths, whereas Cx32 is localized on the outer membrane of large myelin sheaths; Cx29 does not colocalize with Cx32 in gap junction plaques. All oligodendrocytes appear to express Cx47, which is largely restr...

We previously showed the presence of receptors for granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) on tumor tissues and tumor cell lines that are derived from the neural crest. To determine whether normal neural cells express functional GM-CSF receptors, we isolated and analyzed primary rat brain cells, including microglia, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes. Scatchard analysis of equil...

Development of oligodendrocytes and the generation of myelin internodes within the spinal cord depends on regional signals derived from the notochord and axonally derived signals. Neuregulin 1 (NRG)-1, localized in the floor plate as well as in motor and sensory neurons, is necessary for normal oligodendrocyte development. Oligodendrocytes respond to NRGs by activating members of the erbB recep...

The transmembrane connexin proteins of gap junctions link extracellularly to form channels for cell-to-cell exchange of ions and small molecules. Two primary hypotheses of gap junction coupling in the CNS are the following: (1) generalized coupling occurs between neurons and glia, with some connexins expressed in both neurons and glia, and (2) intercellular junctional coupling is restricted to ...