DEVELOPMENTAL EXPRESSION OF THE C1G5F2 ANTIGEN IN CULTURED RAT OLIGODENDROGLIAL CELLS

The C1G5F2 antigen is a newly described minor myelin antigen of the ce ntral nervous system. Its expression compared with that of some other main myelin protein components (Wolfgram W1 protein, myelin basic prot eins (MBP) and proteolipids) was investigated in rat oligodendrocytes derived from 10-day-old primary glial cell cultures and subcultured fo r several days in a chemically defined medium. II was demonstrated imm unocytochemically that this antigen is detected later than the major m yelin markers. All cells immunoreactive with the monoclonal antibody C 1G5F2 were always labeled either by W1-, MBP- or proteolipid-specific antisera. It was also shown at the electron microscopic level that thi s antigen is mainly expressed on the surface of the extremities of the fine oligodendroglial processes. All these observations suggest that the C1G5F2 antigen may be a useful marker for a specific step in the o ligodendrocyte maturation stage.