What is the size of oligodendrocyte?
approximately 6–8 μm
Oligodendrocytes have a small cell body of approximately 6–8 μm in diameter (Karasek et al., 2004). Their nuclei are relatively large and, as seen by electron microscopy, are rich in heterochromatin.
What do oligodendrocytes look like?
The cell has a rounded, dark nucleus with clumped chromatin. The cytoplasm is also electron dense and contains short cisternae of rough endoplasmic reticulum with numerous short mitochondria. It is common for these cells to have some dark inclusions in their cytoplasm.
What is oligodendrocytes and its function?
Oligodendrocytes are the myelinating cells of the central nervous system (CNS). They are the end product of a cell lineage which has to undergo a complex and precisely timed program of proliferation, migration, differentiation, and myelination to finally produce the insulating sheath of axons.
Where are oligodendrocytes found?
Each oligodendrocyte forms one segment of myelin for several adjacent axons. Oligodendrocytes are found only in the central nervous system, which comprises the brain and spinal cord.
Why does multiple sclerosis target oligodendrocytes?
In Multiple Sclerosis (MS), oligodendrocytes are damaged and myelin that normally insulates the axons of nerve cells is lost, a process known as demyelination. When nerve cells become demyelinated due to oligodendrocyte death they become dysfunctional.
What would happen if oligodendrocytes are destroyed?
Thus, neurotransmitter receptors play an important role in the normal life of oligodendrocytes. Furthermore, if oligodendrocytes become damaged and the myelin sheath is destroyed, the action potential is reduced in velocity or ceases altogether, leading to physical or mental disability.
How do you increase oligodendrocytes?
Dietary fat, exercise and myelin dynamics
- High-fat diet in combination with exercise training increases myelin protein expression.
- High-fat diet alone or in combination with exercise has the greatest effect on myelin-related protein expression.
What organelles do oligodendrocytes have?
These cells have a small cell body that contains a spherical nucleus. Other organelles are sparse in these cells. The entire cell body is occupied by the spherical nucleus. However, abundant smooth endoplasmic reticulum is present in these cells for myelin synthesis.
What is astrocytes and oligodendrocytes?
Oligodendrocytes form the myelin sheath around axons. Astrocytes provide nutrients to neurons, maintain their extracellular environment, and provide structural support. Microglia scavenge pathogens and dead cells. Ependymal cells produce cerebrospinal fluid that cushions the neurons.
Are oligodendrocytes myelinated?
Oligodendrocytes are the myelinating cells of the central nervous system (CNS). They are generated from oligodendrocyte progenitor cells following tightly orchestrated processes of migration, proliferation and differentiation [1].
What would happen in someone’s brain if oligodendrocytes started dying?
How are oligodendrocytes destroyed?
With time, however, even the surviving oligodendrocytes are destroyed by the recurrent immune attacks. These cells may also die by programmed cell death since they are terminally differentiated and normally excluded from the process of remyelination [47].