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Physiology of Oligodendroglia

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Neuroglia in Neurodegenerative Diseases

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 1175))

Abstract

Oligodendrocytes are the myelinating cells of the CNS, producing the insulating myelin sheath that facilitates rapid electrical conduction of axonal action potentials. Oligodendrocytes arise from oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) under the control of multiple factors, including neurotransmitters and other neuron-derived factors. A significant population of OPCs persists in the adult CNS, where they are often referred to as NG2-glia, because they are identified by their expression of the NG2 chondroitin sulphate proteoglycan (CSPG4). In the adult brain, the primary function of NG2-glia is the life-long generation of oligodendrocytes to replace myelin lost through natural ‘wear and tear’ and pathology, as well as to provide new oligodendrocytes to myelinate new connections formed in response to new life experiences. NG2-glia contact synapses and respond to neurotransmitters and potassium released during neuronal transmission; to this end, NG2-glia (OPCs) express multiple neurotransmitter receptors and ion channels, with prominent roles being identified for glutamatergic signalling and potassium channels in oligodendrocyte differentiation. Myelinating oligodendrocytes also express a wide range of neurotransmitter receptors and ion channels, together with transporters and gap junctions; together, these have critical functions in cellular ion and water homeostasis, as well as metabolism, which is essential for maintaining myelin and axon integrity. An overriding theme is that oligodendrocyte function and myelination is not only essential for rapid axonal conduction, but is essential for learning and the long-term integrity of axons and neurones. Hence, myelination underpins cognitive function and the massive computing power of the human brain and myelin loss has devastating effects on CNS function. This chapter focuses on normal oligodendrocyte physiology.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are supported by grants from the BBSRC and MRC.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Science, University of Portsmouth, St Michael’s Building, White Sawn Road, Portsmouth, PO1 2DT, UK

    Arthur M. Butt, Maria Papanikolaou & Andrea Rivera

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  1. Arthur M. Butt
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  2. Maria Papanikolaou
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  3. Andrea Rivera
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Correspondence to Arthur M. Butt .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK

    Alexei Verkhratsky

  2. School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China

    Margaret S. Ho

  3. Institute of Pathophysiology, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia

    Robert Zorec

  4. Department of Neurobiology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA

    Vladimir Parpura

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Butt, A.M., Papanikolaou, M., Rivera, A. (2019). Physiology of Oligodendroglia. In: Verkhratsky, A., Ho, M., Zorec, R., Parpura, V. (eds) Neuroglia in Neurodegenerative Diseases. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 1175. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-9913-8_5

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