What is the structure of oligodendrocytes?

Oligodendrocytes have small amounts of cytoplasm surrounding rounded nuclei, and possess only a few short processes. There are two main types: satellites around neurons in the gray matter. myelin-forming cells in the white matter.

What does the oligodendrocyte look like?

Two oligodendrocyte cell bodies are clearly visible as well as several myelinated axons. These are hollow tubes and so appear as “tramlines” in this confocal image. Most of the DNA is in the nuclei of cerebellum granule cells, which are small interneurons.

What is the size of oligodendrocyte?

approximately 6–8 μm
Oligodendrocytes have a small cell body of approximately 6–8 μm in diameter (Karasek et al., 2004). Their nuclei are relatively large and, as seen by electron microscopy, are rich in heterochromatin.

What is the difference between oligodendroglia and oligodendrocyte?

As nouns the difference between oligodendroglia and oligodendrocyte. is that oligodendroglia is (anatomy) tissue (neuroglia) consisting of glial cells that are smaller than astrocytes and form the myelin sheath while oligodendrocyte is (biology) any of the cells of the oligodendroglia in the nervous system.

Is an oligodendrocyte a glial cell?

Oligodendrocytes are another type of glial cells and these cells are responsible for the myelination of axons in the central nervous system (CNS).

What would happen if oligodendrocytes are destroyed?

Thus, neurotransmitter receptors play an important role in the normal life of oligodendrocytes. Furthermore, if oligodendrocytes become damaged and the myelin sheath is destroyed, the action potential is reduced in velocity or ceases altogether, leading to physical or mental disability.

What are the characteristics of oligodendrocytes?

Contact Us Chapter 12 – oligodendrocytes Oligodendrocytes are the myelin-forming cells of the central nervous system. They are characterized by having dark round, oval and sometimes irregularly shaped nuclei, in which chromatin is clumped both beneath the nuclear envelope and throughout the nucleoplasm (Fig. 12.1).

Where are oligodendrocytes found in the white matter?

(a) In white matter oligodendrocytes are found in short rows running parallel to the direction of the axons. In this 10 μm thick section of mouse optic nerve, oligodendrocytes are stained with an antibody that specifically recognizes an antigen on their cell bodies but not their processes.

What type of cytoplasm is found in oligodendrocytes?

Oligodendrocytes have small amounts of cytoplasm surrounding rounded nuclei, and possess only a few short processes. There are two main types: satellites around neurons in the gray matter myelin-forming cells in the white matter

What are oligodendrocyte progenitor cells?

Oligodendrocyte formation in the adult brain is associated with glial-restricted progenitor cells, known as oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs). SVZ cells migrate away from germinal zones to populate both developing white and gray matter, where they differentiate and mature into myelin -forming oligodendrocytes.