PUBLICATION

Characterization of myelination in the developing zebrafish

Authors
Brösamle, C. and Halpern, M.
ID
ZDB-PUB-020716-16
Date
2002
Source
Glia   39(1): 47-57 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Brösamle, Christian, Halpern, Marnie E.
Keywords
myelin basic protein; proteolipid protein; myelin protein zero; oligodendrocyte; Schwann cell
MeSH Terms
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Cattle
  • Chickens
  • DNA, Complementary/chemistry
  • Fishes
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental/physiology*
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Myelin P0 Protein/genetics
  • Myelin P0 Protein/physiology
  • Myelin P0 Protein/ultrastructure
  • Myelin Proteolipid Protein/genetics
  • Myelin Proteolipid Protein/physiology
  • Myelin Proteolipid Protein/ultrastructure
  • Myelin Sheath/genetics
  • Myelin Sheath/physiology*
  • Myelin Sheath/ultrastructure*
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins*
  • Rats
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Zebrafish
  • Zebrafish Proteins/genetics
  • Zebrafish Proteins/physiology*
  • Zebrafish Proteins/ultrastructure*
PubMed
12112375 Full text @ Glia
Abstract
Myelination, the process by which glial cells ensheath and electrically insulate axons, has been investigated intensely. Nevertheless, knowledge of how myelination is regulated or how myelinating cells communicate with neurons is still incomplete. As a prelude to genetic analyses of these processes, we have identified zebrafish orthologues of genes encoding major myelin proteins and have characterized myelination in the larval zebrafish. Expression of genes corresponding to proteolipid protein (PLP/DM20), myelin protein zero (P0), and myelin basic protein (MBP) is detected at 2 days postfertilization (dpf), first in the ventral hindbrain, close to the midline. During the next 8 days, expression spreads rostrally to the midbrain and optic nerve, and caudally to the spinal cord. DM20 is expressed in the CNS only, while MBP transcripts are detected both in the CNS and in Schwann cells of the lateral line, cranial nerves, and spinal motor nerves. Unlike its closest homologue, trout IP1, zebrafish P0 transcripts were restricted to the CNS. Ultrastructurally, the expression of myelin genes correlated well with myelination, although myelination showed a temporal lag. Myelinated axons were first detected at 4 dpf in the ventral hindbrain, where they were loosely wrapped by processes of glia cells. By 7 dpf, bundles of heavily myelinated axons were observed in the same region. Axons in the lateral line and optic nerves were also surrounded by compact myelin. Conservation in gene expression patterns and the early appearance of myelinated axons, support using the zebrafish to dissect the process of myelination by a genetic approach.
Genes / Markers
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Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping