Cell death and control of cell survival in the oligodendrocyte lineage

Cell. 1992 Jul 10;70(1):31-46. doi: 10.1016/0092-8674(92)90531-g.

Abstract

Dead cells are observed in many developing animal tissues, but the causes of these normal cell deaths are mostly unknown. We show that about 50% of oligodendrocytes normally die in the developing rat optic nerve, apparently as a result of a competition for limiting amounts of survival signals. Both platelet-derived growth factor and insulin-like growth factors are survival factors for newly formed oligodendrocytes and their precursors in culture. Increasing platelet-derived growth factor in the developing optic nerve decreases normal oligodendrocyte death by up to 90% and doubles the number of oligodendrocytes in 4 days. These results suggest that a requirement for survival signals is more general than previously thought and that some normal cell deaths in nonneural tissues may also reflect competition for survival factors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Communication
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / pharmacology*
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor II / pharmacology*
  • Oligodendroglia / cytology*
  • Oligodendroglia / drug effects
  • Optic Nerve / cytology*
  • Optic Nerve / drug effects
  • Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / pharmacology*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Inbred Strains

Substances

  • Platelet-Derived Growth Factor
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor I
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor II