MYELIN-ASSOCIATED GLYCOPROTEIN DEMONSTRATED IMMUNOCYTOCHEMICALLY IN MYELIN AND MYELIN-FORMING CELLS OF DEVELOPING RAT

The unlabeled peroxidase-antiperoxidase method has been used with antiserum against 'myelin-associated glycoprotein' to establish the presence of the glycoprotein in myelin and myelin-forming cells of the developing rat nervous system. Myelin-associated glycoprotein is found in oligodendroglial cytoplasm before the beginning of myelination. Staining intensity of oligodendroglia increases during early development and slowly declines during the period of rapid myelination. Myelin staining is confined to the periaxonal region of the myelin sheath and does not increase as large, compact sheaths are formed. Antiserum to central nervous system myelin-associated glycoprotein also stains Schwann cells in developing trigeminal ganglia and the periaxonal region of peripheral myelin sheaths.