Abstract
We have recently demonstrated that the formation of myelin sheaths in the optic nerve of young postnatal mice deficient in the myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) is retarded when compared to age-matched wild-type mice. In the present study, we analyzed whether impaired myelination of retinal ganglion cell axons is detectable in adult MAG mutants. In optic nerves of 2- and 9-month-old MAG-deficient mice, we observed a significantly increased number of unmyelinated axons compared to age-matched wild-type mice. At both ages, unmyelinated axons in optic nerves of MAG mutants were of small caliber. The number of unmyelinated axons decreased significantly in 9- month-old MAG mutants when compared to 2-month-old MAG mutants, indicative of a slow and long-lasting myelination of axons in the mutant. Our observations support the view that MAG is involved in the initiation of myelination in the CNS.
Original language | English (US) |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 231-234 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | Brain research |
Volume | 762 |
Issue number | 1-2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jul 11 1997 |
Externally published | Yes |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- General Neuroscience
- Molecular Biology
- Clinical Neurology
- Developmental Biology
Keywords
- Knock out mutant
- Mouse
- Myelin
- Myelin-associated glycoprotein
- Oligodendrocyte
- Optic nerve