Oligodendroten

Oligodendroten (singular: oligodendroyt; English: oligodendrocyte) are glial cells of the central nervous system that form and maintain myelin sheaths around axons. In the CNS, a single oligodendroten extends processes that wrap segments of multiple axons, producing internodal myelin. This myelination increases the speed of electrical conduction via saltatory conduction and improves the efficiency of neural signaling, while also providing metabolic and trophic support to the axons.

Developmentally, oligodendroten arise from oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) that originate in the neural tube’s ventricular zone and migrate into the brain and spinal cord. OPCs express markers such as PDGFRα and NG2; they mature into myelinating oligodendroten in response to signaling cues including growth factors and thyroid hormone. Mature cells express myelin-specific proteins such as myelin basic protein (MBP), proteolipid protein (PLP), myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG), and CNPase.

Oligodendroten communicate with neighboring cells, including astrocytes, via gap junctions and contribute to ionic balance and axonal support. They are particularly relevant in disease, as demyelinating processes can disrupt conduction and promote neurodegeneration. In conditions such as multiple sclerosis, immune-mediated loss of myelin around axons leads to functional deficits; remyelination by oligodendroten or their precursors can occur but often diminishes with age or chronic disease.

Overall, oligodendroten are essential for rapid and efficient signal transmission in the CNS and for maintaining the integrity of white matter.