Why is the brain vulnerable? Oligodendrocytes

Oligodendrocytes are one of the last types of cell to form in the brain. The brain grows rapidly in the final trimester of pregnancy, at a time when a preterm baby is having to grow outside the mother’s body.

This is due in part to the work undertaken by oligodendrocytes – disruption to their work makes the preterm brain particularly vulnerable and prone to injury. Oligodendrocytes are primarily responsible for wrapping the neuron axons with myelin, a process known as myelination.

Myelin helps the neurons to send messages quickly around the body. Oligodendrocytes also supply proteins to neurons which keep them healthy and help them to form connections (synapses) for passing messages to each other.

Being born early interrupts oligodendrocyte development and can mean lasting problems in the preterm brain and its ability to send instructions.

#cells #cellbiology #braincells

PREMSTEM has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 874721. Results reflect the author’s view only. The European Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains.