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Electrical stimulation promotes the survival of oligodendrocytes in mixed cortical cultures
Author(s) -
Gary Devin S.,
Malone Misti,
Capestany Paul,
Houdayer Thierry,
McDonald John W.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of neuroscience research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.72
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1097-4547
pISSN - 0360-4012
DOI - 10.1002/jnr.22717
Subject(s) - oligodendrocyte , stimulation , neuroscience , white matter , axon , myelin , biology , overlapping generations model , central nervous system , medicine , magnetic resonance imaging , economics , macroeconomics , radiology
Oligodendrocyte (OLG) death plays a major role in white matter dysfunction and demyelination following injury to the CNS. Axonal contact, communication, and neuronal activity appear to promote OLG survival and function in cell culture and during development. The application of electrical stimulation to mixed neural cultures has been shown to promote OLG differentiation and the formation of myelin in vitro. Here we show that OLG viability can be significantly enhanced in mixed cortical cultures by applying biphasic pulses of electrical stimulation (ESTIM). Enhanced survival via ESTIM requires the presence of neurons and is suppressed by inhibition of voltage‐gated sodium channels. Additionally, contact between the axon and OLG is necessary for ESTIM to promote OLG survival. This report suggests that patterned neuronal activity could repress delayed progression of white matter injury and promote CNS repair in neurological conditions that involve white matter damage. Journal of Neuroscience Research (2011) © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.