VEGF- and PDGF-dependent proliferation of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells in the medulla oblongata after LPC-induced focal demyelination

Abstract

The myelin sheath is critical in maintaining normal functions of the adult central nervous system (CNS) and the loss of the myelin sheath results in various neurological diseases. Although remyelination is the intrinsic repair system against demyelination that new myelin sheath is formed around axons in the adult CNS, little has been reported on remyelination system in the medulla oblongata. In the present study, we showed that the proliferation of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) was increased in the medulla oblongata by lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC)-induced focal demyelination, but that of NSCs was not changed. The inhibition of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)- and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-signaling suppressed the proliferation of OPCs by LPC-induced demyelination. Thus, the present study indicates that resident OPCs contribute to focal remyelination and VEGF and PDGF signaling is required for the proliferation of OPCs in the medulla oblongata of the adult mouse.

Keywords: Brain stem; Circumventricular organ; Myelin; Neural stem cell; Oligodendrogenesis.