Pc. Barradas et al., HETEROGENEOUS PATTERNS OF OLIGODENDROGLIAL DIFFERENTIATION IN THE FOREBRAIN OF THE OPOSSUM DIDELPHIS-MARSUPIALIS, Journal of neurocytology, 27(1), 1998, pp. 15-25
The differentiation of oligodendrocytes in the forebrain of the opossu
m (Didelphis marsupialis) has been studied by the immunohistochemical
identification of 2', 3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase (CNPas
e) and by the autoradiographic detection of the uptake of H-3-thymidin
e. CNPase is expressed early in oligodendroglia somata and fibre sheat
hs (myelin) in the forebrain and its persistence in the cell bodies is
regionally heterogeneous, being ephemeral in cells within the optic p
athway, supraoptic decussation, and posterior commissure, of intermedi
ate duration in the mamillo-thalamic fascicle, and stria medullaris, a
nd long-lasting in other diencephalic and in telencephalic tracts. In
the cerebral cortex, most CNPase + cells have small somata and multipl
e processes (types I and II). CNPase-expressing oligodendrocytes are a
lso regionally heterogeneous in terms of proliferative capability, whi
ch could not be detected in forebrain tracts or diencephalon, but has
appeared in a small proportion of cells in the neocortical white matte
r and in the fimbria. Our findings provide additional evidence in favo
ur of the heterogeneity of oligodendrocytes.