oligodendrocytái

Oligodendrocytes are a type of glial cell found in the central nervous system (CNS) of vertebrates. They are the myelinating cells of the CNS, meaning they form the myelin sheath that insulates the axons of neurons. This myelin sheath is crucial for the rapid and efficient transmission of electrical signals along the nerve fibers, a process known as saltatory conduction. Each oligodendrocyte can myelinate multiple axons, extending cytoplasmic processes to wrap around different segments of neuronal axons.

The development of oligodendrocytes, known as oligodendrogenesis, begins during embryonic development and continues into adulthood. Oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) differentiate into mature oligodendrocytes, which then extend their processes and initiate myelination. The myelin sheath is composed of lipids and proteins and acts as an electrical insulator, preventing the leakage of ions across the axonal membrane. This insulation allows the action potential to "jump" between the nodes of Ranvier, gaps in the myelin sheath, significantly speeding up nerve impulse conduction.

Oligodendrocytes are vital for proper CNS function. Demyelination, the loss of myelin, can lead to a variety of neurological disorders, most notably multiple sclerosis (MS). In MS, the immune system mistakenly attacks and damages the myelin sheath, impairing neuronal communication and causing a range of debilitating symptoms. Research into understanding oligodendrocyte biology and finding ways to promote myelin repair is an active area of neuroscience.