MYELINATION OF THE CANINE CENTRAL-NERVOUS-SYSTEM BY GLIAL-CELL TRANSPLANTATION - A MODEL FOR REPAIR OF HUMAN MYELIN DISEASE

There is a lack of effective means of promoting remyelination of the c entral nervous system (CNS) in humans with chronic demyelinating disea se. We have investigated the ability of transplanted glia to myelinate areas of the CNS equivalent to focal demyelinated lesions in multiple sclerosis (MS). In these studies we show that transplantation of olig odendrocytes or their progenitors into the CNS of a neonatal or adult canine myelin mutant results in repair of large areas similar in size to many MS plaques. Progenitor or pre-progenitor cells of the oligoden drocyte lineage have the greatest capacity for myelination following g rafting, although cells of neonatal origin may also be used. Such an a pproach may therefore have therapeutic value in the repair of focal le sions in human myelin disease.