Topic: Oligodendrocyte Precursors

Cerebral palsy (CP) is the leading cause of motor disability in children. Hypoxia-ischemia (HI) and prematurity are main risk factors. Administration of magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) to mothers before 33 weeks' amenorrhea (SA) reduces the occurrence of CP at 2 years by around 30%. At this age, the white matter composed by oligodendrocytes, is particularly vulnerable. However, at long term, MgSO4 neuroprotective effects are not significant.Given the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of 4-phenylbutyrate (4-PBA), its association with MgSO4 may optimize and prolong this neuroprotection in p

Brain structural plasticity is heterogeneous in mammals, due to adaptation to ecological pressures. Whether the genesis of new neurons (stem cell-driven adult neurogenesis) is reduced from mice to humans, we recently demonstrated that a population of prenatally generated (non-dividing) “immature” neurons (INs) retaining the expression of immaturity markers (e.g., doublecortin; DCX), is highly abundant in the cerebral cortex of gyrencephalic species. Presence of DCX-positive (DCX+) cells has been reported also in subcortical regions of some mammals, yet the results regarding their origin are co

Oligodendrocyte precursors (OPCs) possess numerous processes and neurons are abundantly distributed in the brain. We wondered whether OPCs form other types of contact with neurons, apart from synapses. Immunohistochemical analysis exhibited that OPC processes contact somata of inhibitory and excitatory neurons equally well, with preference for active neurons. In addition, more contacts were observed when neurons were chemogenetically stimulated. Utilizing stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscopy, lysosomes were identified in the neuronal compartment at the contact site, particularly the