DIFFERENTIATING OLIGODENDROCYTES INHIBIT NEURONAL GROWTH CONE MOTILITY IN DIFFERENT WAYS

Oligodendrocyte-specific proteins are thought to limit regeneration by inhibiting motility of the neuronal growth cone, These inhibitory pro teins are among an array of molecules, each expressed in a stage-speci fic fashion as an oligodendrocyte differentiates, Here we show that ne uronal growth cone response to contact with differentiating oligodendr ocytes does not strictly correlate with the expression of inhibitory p roteins, This suggests that the neuronal growth cone response depends on the context in which inhibitory molecules are encountered, In addit ion, we provide evidence that there are at least two cellular pathways , within the same growth cones, that lead to growth cone collapse. (C) 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.