Similarities and differences between fish oligodendrocytes and schwann cells in vitro

AbstractIn light of the striking differences between oligodendrocytes of the optic nerve/tract of adult goldfish and their mammalian counterparts, a further characterization of goldfish oligodendrocytes was performed. A comparison with Schwann cells was included because fish optic nerve/tract‐derived oligodendrocytes bear remarkable similarities to this type of glial cell. Fish optic nerve/tract‐derived oligodendrocytes that had differentiated into 04 and 6D2‐positive cells and thus expressed early myelin marker molecules were found to incorporate BrdU and to divide in vitro over a period of weeks. For the induction of more advanced markers of myelinogenesis such as the CNS‐specific myelin protein 36K, oligodendrocytes required extensive contact with axons. Other agents, such as fetal calf or carp serum, substrate components, or forscolin failed, however, to induce 36K expression. 04/6D2‐positive oligodendrocytes could be distinguished from fish 6D2‐positive Schwann cells derived from cranial nerves by their antigenic pheno‐type: Schwann cells but not oligodendrocytes exhibited the low affinity NGF receptor. While both cell types carry the cell adhesion molecules NCAM, E 587 antigen, and the L2/HNK‐1 epitope, only Schwann cells possess a further adhesion molecule, Neurolin. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.