Abstract
SummaryNew myelin-forming oligodendrocytes (OLs) are generated in the mouse central nervous system during adulthood. These adult-born OLs might augment the existing population, contributing to neural plasticity, or else replace OLs that die in use (turnover). To distinguish between these alternatives, we induced genetic labeling of mature myelinating OLs in young adult mice and tracked their subsequent survival. OL survival rates were region dependent, being higher in corpus callosum (∼90% survival over 20 months) and motor cortex (∼70% survival) than in corticospinal tract or optic nerve (50%–60% survival). Survival rates over the first 8 months were 90%–100% in all regions except the optic nerve. In the corpus callosum, new OLs accumulate during young adulthood and are therefore likely to participate in adaptive myelination. We also found that the number of myelin internodes maintained by individual cortical OLs is stable for at least 8 months but declines ∼12% in the following year.
Highlights
Oligodendrocytes (OLs) myelinate axons in the CNS
We found that the great majority ($90%) of myelinating OLs that were present in the corpus callosum at postnatal day 60 (P60) survived until at least 20 months of age
We generated a line of Opalin–iCreERT2 bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) transgenic mice and crossed this with the Rosa26–eYFP reporter (Rosa–yellow fluorescent protein (YFP); Srinivas et al, 2001)
Summary
McKenzie, Eleni Kougioumtzidou, Matthew Grist, William D. Tripathi et al estimate the lifetime of myelinating oligodendrocytes (OLs) by fate-mapping in Opalin-CreERT2: TaumGFP mice. In the corpus callosum, >90% of OLs survived for >1.5 years and probably outlive the mouse. Adult-born OLs are not needed for myelin homeostasis but potentially contribute to experience-dependent, adaptive myelination. Highlights d Myelinating oligodendrocytes (OLs) continue to develop in the adult mouse CNS d They might replace dying OLs or else contribute to new (adaptive) myelination d We estimated OL lifetime by genetic fate-mapping in Opalin– iCreERT2: Tau–mGFP mice d In most regions, >90% of OLs survive >8 months, so most new OLs are probably adaptive. 2017, Cell Reports 21, 316–323 October 10, 2017 a 2017 The Author(s).
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