NEONATAL OLIGODENDROCYTES CONTAIN AND SECRETE NEUREGULINS IN-VITRO

The factors that influence the development of oligodendrocyte (OLG) pr ogenitors into mature OLGs remain elusive. Recent evidence has suggest ed that neu differentiation factor (NDF), which is a member of the neu regulin family of growth factors, influences the development of glial cells, including Schwann cells, astrocytes, and OLGs, Neurons are post ulated to be the source of neuregulins, because neurons closely intera ct with these glial cells during development. In this report, we have identified the mRNA for both isoform families of NDF in cultured neona tal (immature) OLGs. We have also demonstrated that cultured neonatal OLGs contain and secrete NDF protein, These data raise the possibility that NDF could be used in an autocrine/paracrine loop by neonatal OLG s during development for survival, proliferation, and/or differentiati on.