Cited by 985Multiple Sclerosis Research StudiesNeurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanismsNeuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms

The Neurotoxicant, Cuprizone, as a Model to Study Demyelination and Remyelination in the Central Nervous System

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Matsushima, Glenn K., Morell, Pierre·2001·Brain Pathology

Abstract

Myelin of the adult CNS is vulnerable to a variety of metabolic, toxic, and autoimmune insults. That remyelination can ensue, following demyelinating insult, has been well demonstrated. Details of the process of remyelination are, however difficult to ascertain since in most experimental models of demyelination/remyelination the severity, localization of lesion site, or time course of the pathophysiology is variable from animal to animal. In contrast, an experimental model in which massive demyelination can be reproducibly induced in large areas of mouse brain is exposure to the copper chelator, cuprizone, in the diet. We review work from several laboratories over the past 3 decades, with emphasis on our own recent studies, which suggest an overall picture of cellular events involved in demyelination/remyelination. When 8 week old C57BL/6 mice are fed 0.2% cuprizone in the diet, mature olidgodendroglia are specifically insulted (cannot fulfill the metabolic demand of support of vast amounts of myelin) and go through apoptosis.This is closely followed by recruitment of microglia and phagoctytosis of myelin. Studies of myelin gene expression, coordinated with morphological studies, indicate that even in the face of continued metabolic challenge, oligodendroglial progenitor cells proliferate and invade demyelinated areas. If the cuprizone challenge is terminated, an almost complete remyelination takes place in a matter of weeks. Communication between different cell types by soluble factors may be inferred. This material is presented in the context of a model compatible with present data—and which can be tested more rigorously with the cuprizone model. The reproducibility of the model indicates that it may allow for testing of manipulations (e.g. available knockouts or transgenics on the common genetic background, or pharmacological treatments) which may accelerate or repress the process of demyelination and or remyelination.

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Crossref · 10.1111/j.1750-3639.2001.tb00385.x

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  • The C57BL/6 mice showed a dramatic loss of myelin staining at 4 weeks of cuprizone treatment.

    “The C57BL/6 mice showed a dramatic loss of myelin staining at this time point (Fig. 1b), which is consistent with previous reports [5].”

    From Strain differences in cuprizone induced demyelination (2017) · cites this paper as [5]

    The opening passage (section and page unavailable) describes massive cuprizone-induced demyelination in mouse brain and specifically discusses C57BL/6 mice fed cuprizone. It does not establish that a dramatic loss of myelin staining occurs at four weeks, so the cited report supports the general finding but not that time point or staining observation. (LLM, conf=0.82)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Upon treatment with cuprizone, mice typically exhibit profound demyelination in the corpus callosum, the cortex and the superior cerebellar peduncles.

    “Upon treatment with cuprizone, mice typically exhibit profound demyelination in the corpus callosum, the cortex and the superior cerebellar peduncles [4, 5].”

    From Strain differences in cuprizone induced demyelination (2017) · cites this paper as [5]

    The opening passage in our copy (section and page not labeled) says cuprizone reproducibly induces massive demyelination in large areas of mouse brain. The references include a study titled “Demyelination of the superior cerebellar peduncle in the mouse induced by cuprizone,” but no passage in our copy establishes that profound demyelination typically occurs in all three named regions; the corpus callosum and cortex are not identified. (LLM, conf=0.84)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Most investigators use the standard C57BL/6 mouse strain in the cuprizone model to study molecular components of corpus callosum demyelination.

    “Most investigators use the standard C57BL/6 mouse strain in the cuprizone model to study the different molecular components involved in the complex pathogenic processes leading to corpus callosum demyelination [5].”

    From Strain differences in cuprizone induced demyelination (2017) · cites this paper as [5]

    The opening summary (page not supplied) describes cuprizone-induced demyelination in C57BL/6 mice and studies of myelin gene expression and cellular events. It does not establish that most investigators use this strain or specify the corpus callosum as the site studied. (LLM, conf=0.82)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • In the corpus callosum, cuprizone treatment induces apoptosis of oligodendrocytes together with recruitment of microglia/macrophages, astrocytes and OPCs.

    “In the corpus callosum, apoptosis of oligodendrocytes is observed, together with recruitment of microglia/macrophages, astrocytes and oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) [5, 6].”

    From Strain differences in cuprizone induced demyelination (2017) · cites this paper as [5]

    The main-text passage supplied in our copy (no page label) says that cuprizone-fed mice undergo mature oligodendrocyte apoptosis, followed by microglial recruitment, and that oligodendrocyte progenitors proliferate and invade demyelinated areas. It does not specify the corpus callosum or say that astrocytes are recruited; the reference-list mentions of astrocytes do not establish that part of the claim. (LLM, conf=0.85)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Continuous exposure of C57BL/6 mice to cuprizone results in two cycles of demyelination and remyelination, followed by chronic demyelination from which animals do not recover.

    “In contrast, the continuous exposure of C57BL/6 mice to cuprizone results in a pattern of two cycles of demyelination and remyelination, followed by chronic demyelination from which animals do not recover 36, 39.”

    From SJL Mice Exposed to Cuprizone Intoxication Reveal Strain and Gender Pattern Differences in Demyelination (2009) · cites this paper as [39]

    The paper’s summary passage describes cuprizone-induced demyelination in C57BL/6 mice and oligodendroglial progenitor activity despite continued exposure. It does not describe two cycles of demyelination and remyelination or establish that the animals cannot recover; it instead reports almost complete remyelination when cuprizone is withdrawn. The indexed passages provide no page number for this passage. (LLM, conf=0.82)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

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Cites

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Research works printed but not linked: 3

  1. [18]Jurevics HA, Hostettler J, Matsushima GK, Toews AD, and Morell P (2000) Lipid metabolism during remyelination in brain. J Neurochem 74:S32. [Google Scholar]
  2. [27]Ludwin SK (1980) Chronic demyelination inhibits remyelination in the central nervous system. Lab Invest 43:382–387. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. [34]Nishiyama A, Lin X‐H, Giese N, Heldin C‐H, Stallcup WB (1996) Co‐localization of NG2 proteoglycan and PDGFa‐receptor on O2A progenitor cells in the developing rat brain. J Neurosci Res 43:299–314. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

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Authors
Matsushima, G. K., & Morell, P.
Affiliations
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (US)
Corresponding author
Matsushima, Glenn K.
Venue
Brain Pathology
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2001-01
Volume
11
Issue
1
Pages
107-116
ISSN
  • 1015-6305 (ISSN-L)
  • 1750-3639
OpenAlex
W2100904149
Cited by
984
References
45
Citations by year
2026: 31 · 2025: 38 · 2024: 42 · 2023: 50 · 2022: 58 · 2021: 48 · 2020: 55 · 2019: 75 · 2018: 59 · 2017: 65 · 2016: 39 · 2015: 58 · 2014: 39 · 2013: 53 · 2012: 40
FWCI
2.03
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Brain Pathology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (5r01ns011615-29, 5r01ns037815-05, 5r29ns035372-05)
  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NS37815, NS-11615, NS-35372)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pathology and Forensic Medicine › Multiple Sclerosis Research Studies
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Developmental Neuroscience › Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms
Keywords
cuprizone, demyelination, remyelination, oligodendrocyte apoptosis, microglia, myelin phagocytosis, oligodendrocyte precursor cells, myelin gene expression, C57BL/6 mice, copper chelators
MeSH terms
Animals, Central Nervous System, Chelating Agents, Cuprizone, Demyelinating Diseases, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Myelin Sheath, Oligodendroglia, Microglia, Models, Animal, Mice

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