Cited by 328Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanismsNeonatal and fetal brain pathologyMultiple Sclerosis Research Studies

Oligodendrocyte development and the onset of myelination in the human fetal brain

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Jakovcevski, Igor·2009·Frontiers in Neuroanatomy

Abstract

Oligodendrocytes are cells that myelinate axons, providing saltatory conduction of action potentials and proper function of the central nervous system. Myelination begins prenatally in the human, and the sequence of oligodendrocyte development and the onset of myelination are not thoroughly investigated. This knowledge is important to better understand human diseases, such as periventricular leukomalacia, one of the leading causes of motor deficit in premature babies, and demyelinating disorders such as multiple sclerosis (MS). In this review we discuss the spatial and temporal progression of oligodendrocyte lineage characterized by the expression of specific markers and transcription factors in the human fetal brain from the early embryonic period (5 gestational weeks, gw) until midgestation (24 gw). Our in vitro evidence indicated that a subpopulation of human oligodendrocytes may have dorsal origin, from cortical radial glia cells, in addition to their ventral telencephalic origin. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the regulation of myelination in the human fetal brain includes positive and negative regulators. Chemokines, such as CXCL1, abundant in proliferative zones during brain development and in regions of remyelination in adult, are discussed in the view of their potential roles in stimulating oligodendrocyte development. Other signals are inhibitory and may include, but are not limited to, polysialic acid modification of the neural cell adhesion molecule on axons. Overall, important differences in temporal and spatial distribution and regulatory signals for oligodendrocyte differentiation exist between human and rodent brains. Those differences may underlie the unique susceptibility of humans to demyelinating diseases, such as MS.

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Crossref · 10.3389/neuro.05.005.2009

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  • In the fetal brain, tract-related changes are probably caused by pre-myelination phases such as proliferation and maturation of oligodendrocyte and progenitor cells.

    “In the fetal brain, it is probably caused by pre-myelination phases such as proliferation and maturation of oligodendrocyte and progenitor cells, the glia that form the myelin sheath (Jakovcevski et al., 2009).”

    From Quantitative mapping of the brain’s structural connectivity using diffusion MRI tractography: A review (2022) · cites this paper as Jakovcevski et al., 2009

    The sections on oligodendrocyte lineage progression and axonal signaling describe proliferating progenitors and the maturation of precursors into pre-myelinating oligodendrocytes in the fetal forebrain before myelination begins (page numbers unavailable). They do not establish that these processes cause the tract-related changes in the citing claim. (LLM, conf=0.84)

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2 of the 144 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.

Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. Spassky N. Olivier C. Perez-Villegas E. Goujet-Zalc C. Martinez S. Thomas J. Zalc B. (2000). Single or multiple oligodendroglial lineages: a controversy. Glia 29, 143– 148 10.1002/(SICI)1098-1136(20000115)29:2<143::AID-GLIA7>3.0.CO;2-D 10625332 · DOI
  2. Yakovlev P. I. Lecourse A. R. (1967). The myelinogenetic cycles in regional maturation of the brain. In Regional Development of the Brain in Early Life, Minkowsky A., ed (Oxford, Blackwell), pp. 3– 70

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Authors
Jakovcevski, I.
Venue
Frontiers in Neuroanatomy
Published
2009
Volume
3
Pages
5-5
ISSN
1662-5129 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2018440098
Cited by
323
References
144
Citations by year
2026: 14 · 2025: 17 · 2024: 31 · 2023: 30 · 2022: 26 · 2021: 34 · 2020: 22 · 2019: 17 · 2018: 22 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 12 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 20 · 2013: 23 · 2012: 8
FWCI
3.35
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by
Locations
  • Frontiers in Neuroanatomy (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health
  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (R01NS041489)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Developmental Neuroscience › Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Neonatal and fetal brain pathology
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pathology and Forensic Medicine › Multiple Sclerosis Research Studies
Keywords
oligodendrocyte development, myelination, human fetal brain, oligodendrocyte lineage, transcription factors, radial glia, polysialic acid, CD56, demyelinating disease, multiple sclerosis, periventricular leukomalacia, gestational development

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