Tenascin demarcates the boundary between the myelinated and nonmyelinated part of retinal ganglion cell axons in the developing and adult mouse

U Bartsch; A Faissner; J Trotter; U Dörries; S Bartsch; H Mohajeri; M Schachner

doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.14-08-04756.1994

Tenascin demarcates the boundary between the myelinated and nonmyelinated part of retinal ganglion cell axons in the developing and adult mouse

J Neurosci. 1994 Aug;14(8):4756-68. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.14-08-04756.1994.

Authors

U Bartsch¹, A Faissner, J Trotter, U Dörries, S Bartsch, H Mohajeri, M Schachner

Affiliation

¹ Department of Neurobiology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zürich.

Abstract

The molecular determinants controlling the topographically restricted distribution of neural cells in the mammalian CNS are largely unknown. In the mouse, myelin-forming oligodendrocytes are differentially distributed along retinal ganglion cell axons. These axons are myelin free intraretinally and in the most proximal (i.e., retinal) part of the optic nerve, but become myelinated in the distal (i.e., chiasmal) part of the optic nerve. Tenascin protein and mRNA are detectable in increased amounts at the retinal end of the developing optic nerve before the arrival of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells and are restricted to this region in the adult optic nerve. Tenascin is a nonadhesive substrate for oligodendrocytes and their progenitor cells in vitro when offered as a substrate in choice with polyornithine. These observations suggest that tenascin is critical for the establishment and maintenance of the restricted distribution of myelin-forming oligodendrocytes along retinal ganglion cell axons of the mouse.

MeSH terms

Animals
Axons / metabolism*
Axons / ultrastructure
Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal / genetics
Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal / metabolism*
Cells, Cultured
Extracellular Matrix Proteins / genetics
Extracellular Matrix Proteins / metabolism*
Fluorescent Antibody Technique
Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / metabolism
In Situ Hybridization
Mice
Mice, Inbred C57BL
Mice, Inbred ICR
Microscopy, Immunoelectron
Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / metabolism
Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics
Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism*
Oligodendroglia / metabolism
Oligodendroglia / ultrastructure
Optic Nerve / growth & development
Optic Nerve / metabolism
Optic Nerve / ultrastructure
RNA, Messenger / metabolism
Receptors, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / metabolism
Retinal Ganglion Cells / metabolism*
Retinal Ganglion Cells / ultrastructure
Stem Cells / metabolism
Tenascin

Substances

Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal
Extracellular Matrix Proteins
Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein
Nerve Tissue Proteins
RNA, Messenger
Tenascin
Receptors, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor