Myelin basic protein profile of central nervous system in experimentally induced demyelination and remyelination

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the present study was to assess myelin basic protein (MBP) profiles of central nervous system in experimentally induced demyelination and remyelination. Materials and Methods: Sixty 8-10 weeks old male C57Bl/6 mice were used for this study. Twenty mice were selected as control and 40 mice as experimental group. Experimental group was fed ad libitum with a 0.3 % cuprizone diet for 6 weeks. At the end of 6 weeks, 20 mice from the experimental group and 10 mice from the control group were euthanasied and the remaining of the experimental group was fed cuprizone-free diet for more 4 weeks and then 10 mice in the control group and 20 mice in the experimental group were sacrificed. Corpus callosum sections were removed and protein extraction was performed in all samples. The MBP profiles were evaluated by sodium dodecyl sulphate - polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western-blot analysis. Results and Conclusion: Decreased intensity of the MBP isoforms below the 26.6 kDa was observed in demyelinated group as compared with controls. In the remylinated group, intensity of MBP approached to values of control group. This study will contribute to the understanding of the mechanisms of demyelination and remyelination as well as will serve a base for the future studies investigating diseases characterized by demyelination in human and animals.